Colleton County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 75.3 | 38,874 people · 8th most distressed in South Carolina
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Colleton County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 75.3 — 177th 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 8th of 46 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Colleton County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 93.1 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 93.1
Debt in Collections 97
Medical Debt 82
Auto Loan Delinquency 97
Credit Card Delinquency 97
Uninsured Rate 90
Subprime Credit Population 92
Structural Poverty 86.8
Unemployment Rate 91
Poverty Rate 93
Income vs. State Median 85
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 77
Transfer Income Dependency 84
Housing Cost Burden 57.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 65
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 57
Legal Distress 46.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 46
Economic Vitality 34.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 26
Rent-to-Income Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Colleton County
Colleton County, SC 75.3 Serious —
Bamberg County, SC 79.8 Serious +4.5
Orangeburg County, SC 78.7 Serious +3.4
Hampton County, SC 73.3 Serious -2.0
Dorchester County, SC 67.4 Serious -7.9
Allendale County, SC 67.3 Serious -8.1
Charleston County, SC 55.5 Elevated -19.8
Beaufort County, SC 48.4 Normal -26.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Colleton County
Jefferson Davis County, MS 75.3 Serious +0.0
Northampton County, NC 75.4 Serious +0.0
Wayne County, MO 75.2 Serious -0.1
Peach County, GA 75.5 Serious +0.2
Calhoun County, FL 75.5 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Colleton 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 Colleton 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 Colleton County, South Carolina?

    Colleton County has a County Distress Index score of 75.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 177th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Colleton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Colleton County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 93.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Colleton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Colleton County (75.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Bamberg County, SC (79.8); Orangeburg County, SC (78.7); Hampton County, SC (73.3).

  • 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). Colleton County's score of 75.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Colleton 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 Colleton County?

    Colleton County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 38,874 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.