Dillon County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 76.0 | 27,698 people · 6th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Dillon County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 76.0 — 157th 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 6th of 46 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dillon County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 94.4 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 94.4
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 74
Auto Loan Delinquency 99
Credit Card Delinquency 99
Uninsured Rate 87
Subprime Credit Population 99
Structural Poverty 88.3
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 93
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 56
Transfer Income Dependency 94
Economic Vitality 60.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 73
Business Formation Rate 34
House Price Change (YoY) 96
Housing Cost Burden 53.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 40
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 1
Homeownership Rate 93
Legal Distress 22.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dillon County
Dillon County, SC 76.0 Serious —
Robeson County, NC 79.6 Serious +3.6
Marlboro County, SC 74.1 Serious -1.9
Florence County, SC 72.6 Serious -3.5
Columbus County, NC 67.9 Serious -8.1
Marion County, SC 66.9 Serious -9.1
Horry County, SC 62.1 Elevated -13.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dillon County
Meriwether County, GA 76.1 Serious +0.1
Wayne County, MS 75.9 Serious -0.2
Willacy County, TX 76.2 Serious +0.2
Jackson County, FL 76.3 Serious +0.3
Danville city, VA 76.4 Serious +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dillon 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 Dillon 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 Dillon County, South Carolina?

    Dillon County has a County Distress Index score of 76.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 157th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dillon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dillon County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 94.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Dillon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dillon County (76.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Robeson County, NC (79.6); Marlboro County, SC (74.1); Florence County, SC (72.6).

  • 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). Dillon County's score of 76.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Dillon 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 Dillon County?

    Dillon County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 27,698 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.