Kershaw County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.7 | 69,905 people · 26th most distressed in South Carolina
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Kershaw County, SC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.7 — 662nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within South Carolina, it ranks 26th of 46 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kershaw County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 76.3 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 76.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Consumer Credit Distress 74.1
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 80
Uninsured Rate 57
Subprime Credit Population 77
Housing Cost Burden 64.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 80
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 12
Structural Poverty 46.3
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 42
Income vs. State Median 17
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 54
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Economic Vitality 34.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 16
House Price Change (YoY) 61

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kershaw County
Kershaw County, SC 64.7 Elevated —
Darlington County, SC 77.4 Serious +12.8
Richland County, SC 75.5 Serious +10.9
Fairfield County, SC 74.7 Serious +10.0
Lee County, SC 74.6 Serious +10.0
Sumter County, SC 74.1 Serious +9.4
Chesterfield County, SC 70.6 Serious +5.9
Lancaster County, SC 49.3 Normal -15.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kershaw County
Gila County, AZ 64.7 Elevated +0.0
Mohave County, AZ 64.7 Elevated -0.0
Bay County, FL 64.7 Elevated +0.0
Payne County, OK 64.6 Elevated -0.0
Jackson County, MS 64.6 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kershaw 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 Kershaw 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 Kershaw County, South Carolina?

    Kershaw County has a County Distress Index score of 64.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 662nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kershaw County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kershaw County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 76.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Kershaw County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kershaw County (64.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Darlington County, SC (77.4); Richland County, SC (75.5); Fairfield County, SC (74.7).

  • 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). Kershaw County's score of 64.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Kershaw 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 Kershaw County?

    Kershaw County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 69,905 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.