Dorchester County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.4 | 169,833 people · 19th most distressed in South Carolina
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Dorchester County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.4 — 524th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within South Carolina, it ranks 19th of 46 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dorchester County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 78.3 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 78.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 94
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 86
Homeownership Rate 45
Economic Vitality 77.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 96
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 10
House Price Change (YoY) 74
Consumer Credit Distress 75.3
Debt in Collections 74
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 77
Credit Card Delinquency 73
Uninsured Rate 73
Subprime Credit Population 79
Legal Distress 43.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 43
Structural Poverty 28.4
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 22
Income vs. State Median 8
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dorchester County
Dorchester County, SC 67.4 Serious —
Orangeburg County, SC 78.7 Serious +11.3
Colleton County, SC 75.3 Serious +7.9
Berkeley County, SC 63.5 Elevated -3.9
Charleston County, SC 55.5 Elevated -11.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dorchester County
Bartow County, GA 67.4 Serious -0.0
Laurel County, KY 67.3 Serious -0.0
Lowndes County, MS 67.3 Serious -0.0
Glynn County, GA 67.2 Serious -0.2
St. Francois County, MO 67.6 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dorchester 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 Dorchester 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 Dorchester County, South Carolina?

    Dorchester County has a County Distress Index score of 67.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 524th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dorchester County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dorchester County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 78.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Dorchester County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dorchester County (67.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Orangeburg County, SC (78.7); Colleton County, SC (75.3); Berkeley County, SC (63.5).

  • 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). Dorchester County's score of 67.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Dorchester 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 Dorchester County?

    Dorchester County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 169,833 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.