Greenville County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.9 | 558,036 people · 41st most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Greenville County, SC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.9 — 1342nd 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 41st of 46 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Greenville County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.1 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 75
Consumer Credit Distress 59.2
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 39
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 66
Subprime Credit Population 58
Economic Vitality 44.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 8
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Structural Poverty 26.6
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 10
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 20
Transfer Income Dependency 18
Legal Distress 15.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Greenville County
Greenville County, SC 53.9 Elevated —
Laurens County, SC 66.3 Serious +12.4
Pickens County, SC 61.4 Elevated +7.5
Spartanburg County, SC 61.2 Elevated +7.3
Abbeville County, SC 58.0 Elevated +4.1
Anderson County, SC 57.8 Elevated +3.8
Transylvania County, NC 45.5 Normal -8.4
Polk County, NC 42.2 Normal -11.7
Henderson County, NC 41.2 Normal -12.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Greenville County
Washington County, AR 53.8 Elevated -0.1
Macomb County, MI 54.1 Elevated +0.2
Allen County, IN 53.7 Elevated -0.2
Durham County, NC 54.3 Elevated +0.4
Fort Bend County, TX 54.3 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Greenville County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Greenville County.

GREENVILLE COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Greenville
864-467-7095 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement

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 Greenville 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Greenville County has a County Distress Index score of 53.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,342nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 41st in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Greenville County?

    The primary driver of distress in Greenville County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Greenville County compare to neighboring counties?

    Greenville County (53.9) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Laurens County, SC (66.3); Pickens County, SC (61.4); Spartanburg County, SC (61.2).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Greenville County's score of 53.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Greenville 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 Greenville County?

    Greenville County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 558,036 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.