Horry County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.1 | 397,478 people · 30th most distressed in South Carolina
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Horry County, SC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.1 — 821st 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 30th of 46 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Horry County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 74.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 74.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 84
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 83
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 43
Economic Vitality 71.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 83
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Consumer Credit Distress 60.4
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 59
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 79
Subprime Credit Population 61
Structural Poverty 57.3
Unemployment Rate 91
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 18
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 69
Transfer Income Dependency 76
Legal Distress 31.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 31

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Horry County
Horry County, SC 62.1 Elevated —
Robeson County, NC 79.6 Serious +17.5
Dillon County, SC 76.0 Serious +13.9
Columbus County, NC 67.9 Serious +5.8
Marion County, SC 66.9 Serious +4.8
Georgetown County, SC 53.8 Elevated -8.3
Brunswick County, NC 46.7 Normal -15.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Horry County
Luzerne County, PA 62.1 Elevated -0.0
Tulsa County, OK 61.8 Elevated -0.3
Jefferson County, KY 61.7 Elevated -0.4
New Castle County, DE 61.7 Elevated -0.4
Baltimore County, MD 62.6 Elevated +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Horry 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 Horry 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 Horry County, South Carolina?

    Horry County has a County Distress Index score of 62.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 821st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Horry County?

    The primary driver of distress in Horry County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 74.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Horry County compare to neighboring counties?

    Horry County (62.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Robeson County, NC (79.6); Dillon County, SC (76.0); Columbus County, NC (67.9).

  • 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). Horry County's score of 62.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Horry 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 Horry County?

    Horry County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 397,478 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.