Clarendon County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 74.4 | 31,004 people · 11th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Clarendon County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 74.4 — 213th 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 11th of 46 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clarendon County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 87.4 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 87.4
Debt in Collections 92
Medical Debt 72
Auto Loan Delinquency 92
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 86.6
Unemployment Rate 99
Poverty Rate 86
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 90
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 89
Legal Distress 61.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Housing Cost Burden 53.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 67
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 44
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 57
Economic Vitality 50.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Rent-to-Income Ratio 65
Business Formation Rate 21
House Price Change (YoY) 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clarendon County
Clarendon County, SC 74.4 Serious —
Williamsburg County, SC 81.1 Crisis +6.8
Orangeburg County, SC 78.7 Serious +4.3
Sumter County, SC 74.1 Serious -0.3
Florence County, SC 72.6 Serious -1.8
Calhoun County, SC 66.8 Serious -7.6
Berkeley County, SC 63.5 Elevated -10.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clarendon County
McIntosh County, GA 74.3 Serious -0.1
Attala County, MS 74.2 Serious -0.1
Jefferson County, GA 74.5 Serious +0.2
Wayne County, GA 74.5 Serious +0.2
Copiah County, MS 74.2 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clarendon 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 Clarendon 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Clarendon County has a County Distress Index score of 74.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 213th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clarendon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clarendon County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 87.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Clarendon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clarendon County (74.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Williamsburg County, SC (81.1); Orangeburg County, SC (78.7); Sumter County, SC (74.1).

  • 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). Clarendon County's score of 74.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Clarendon 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 Clarendon County?

    Clarendon County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 31,004 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.