Chesterfield County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 70.6 | 44,031 people · 17th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Chesterfield County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 70.6 — 364th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within South Carolina, it ranks 17th of 46 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chesterfield County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 88.9 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 88.9
Debt in Collections 92
Medical Debt 78
Auto Loan Delinquency 87
Credit Card Delinquency 97
Uninsured Rate 78
Subprime Credit Population 93
Structural Poverty 83.6
Unemployment Rate 91
Poverty Rate 87
Income vs. State Median 77
Child Poverty Rate 91
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Housing Cost Burden 50.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 36
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 60
Legal Distress 38.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 38
Economic Vitality 32.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 21
Rent-to-Income Ratio 51
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 1

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County, SC 70.6 Serious —
Anson County, NC 77.5 Serious +6.9
Darlington County, SC 77.4 Serious +6.8
Richmond County, NC 74.8 Serious +4.2
Marlboro County, SC 74.1 Serious +3.5
Kershaw County, SC 64.7 Elevated -5.9
Lancaster County, SC 49.3 Normal -21.3
Union County, NC 39.1 Normal -31.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chesterfield County
Chester County, SC 70.5 Serious -0.0
Le Flore County, OK 70.5 Serious -0.1
Union County, AR 70.7 Serious +0.1
Wayne County, KY 70.7 Serious +0.1
Pasquotank County, NC 70.7 Serious +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Chesterfield County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Chesterfield County

Find an Attorney

South Carolina Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

South Carolina Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 803-799-7100

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Chesterfield County residents at no cost.

SC Legal Services (Palmetto Legal Services / Greater Columbia Community Relations Council) 1-888-346-5592
Upstate Legal Services 864-679-3232
Pro Bono Legal Services — SC Bar 803-799-6653
Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services 843-853-3304
South Carolina Legal Services, Inc. (888) 346-5592

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in South Carolina →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Chesterfield County, South Carolina?

    Chesterfield County has a County Distress Index score of 70.6 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 364th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chesterfield County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chesterfield County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 88.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Chesterfield County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chesterfield County (70.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Anson County, NC (77.5); Darlington County, SC (77.4); Richmond County, NC (74.8).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Serious zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Chesterfield County's score of 70.6 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Chesterfield County's CDI score?

    Chesterfield County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Chesterfield County?

    Chesterfield County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 44,031 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.