Edgefield County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 65.4 | 27,607 people · 25th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Edgefield County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 65.4 — 618th 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 25th 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. Edgefield County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 79.1 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 79.1
Debt in Collections 83
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 90
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 76
Economic Vitality 60.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 75
Rent-to-Income Ratio 74
Business Formation Rate 29
House Price Change (YoY) 4
Structural Poverty 56.9
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 71
Disability Rate 45
Transfer Income Dependency 62
Housing Cost Burden 54.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 70
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 20
Legal Distress 33.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Edgefield County
Edgefield County, SC 65.4 Serious —
Richmond County, GA 89.2 Crisis +23.7
Greenwood County, SC 63.4 Elevated -2.1
Saluda County, SC 61.4 Elevated -4.0
Aiken County, SC 59.9 Elevated -5.5
Columbia County, GA 48.0 Normal -17.4
McCormick County, SC 46.7 Normal -18.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Edgefield County
Pushmataha County, OK 65.4 Serious 0.0
Limestone County, TX 65.4 Serious -0.0
Carter County, KY 65.4 Serious -0.0
Monroe County, MS 65.4 Serious -0.0
Howard County, TX 65.5 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Edgefield 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 Edgefield 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 Edgefield County, South Carolina?

    Edgefield County has a County Distress Index score of 65.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 618th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Edgefield County?

    The primary driver of distress in Edgefield County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 79.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Edgefield County compare to neighboring counties?

    Edgefield County (65.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Richmond County, GA (89.2); Greenwood County, SC (63.4); Saluda County, SC (61.4).

  • 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). Edgefield County's score of 65.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Edgefield 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 Edgefield County?

    Edgefield County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 27,607 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.