Florence County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.6 | 137,214 people · 15th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Florence County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.6 — 290th 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 15th of 46 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Florence County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 84.4 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 84.4
Debt in Collections 93
Medical Debt 48
Auto Loan Delinquency 97
Credit Card Delinquency 90
Uninsured Rate 65
Subprime Credit Population 92
Housing Cost Burden 69.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 67
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 34
Homeownership Rate 86
Structural Poverty 62.8
Unemployment Rate 85
Poverty Rate 81
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 87
Disability Rate 27
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Legal Distress 52.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 53
Economic Vitality 48.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 73
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Florence County
Florence County, SC 72.6 Serious —
Williamsburg County, SC 81.1 Crisis +8.6
Darlington County, SC 77.4 Serious +4.9
Dillon County, SC 76.0 Serious +3.5
Lee County, SC 74.6 Serious +2.1
Clarendon County, SC 74.4 Serious +1.8
Marlboro County, SC 74.1 Serious +1.5
Sumter County, SC 74.1 Serious +1.5
Marion County, SC 66.9 Serious -5.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Florence County
San Patricio County, TX 72.6 Serious +0.0
Pitt County, NC 72.6 Serious +0.0
McKinley County, NM 72.7 Serious +0.1
Richmond city, VA 72.5 Serious -0.1
Calcasieu Parish, LA 72.8 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Florence County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Florence County.

CITY OF FLORENCE
Florence
843-665-3175 Website
Fair HousingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help

See all counselors in South Carolina →

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 Florence 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in South Carolina →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Florence County has a County Distress Index score of 72.6 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 290th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 15th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Florence County?

    The primary driver of distress in Florence County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 84.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Florence County compare to neighboring counties?

    Florence County (72.6) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Williamsburg County, SC (81.1); Darlington County, SC (77.4); Dillon County, SC (76.0).

  • 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). Florence County's score of 72.6 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Florence 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 Florence County?

    Florence County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 137,214 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.