Lexington County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.9 | 309,528 people · 39th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Lexington County, SC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.9 — 1209th 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 39th of 46 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lexington County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 66.2 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 66.2
Debt in Collections 64
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 79
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 68
Housing Cost Burden 58.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 68
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 45
Homeownership Rate 36
Economic Vitality 49.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 67
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 19
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Legal Distress 39.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 39
Structural Poverty 28.4
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 31
Income vs. State Median 9
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lexington County
Lexington County, SC 55.9 Elevated —
Orangeburg County, SC 78.7 Serious +22.8
Richland County, SC 75.5 Serious +19.6
Calhoun County, SC 66.8 Serious +10.9
Newberry County, SC 66.3 Serious +10.4
Saluda County, SC 61.4 Elevated +5.5
Aiken County, SC 59.9 Elevated +4.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lexington County
Bristol County, MA 55.8 Elevated -0.1
Fayette County, KY 55.8 Elevated -0.1
Virginia Beach city, VA 55.5 Elevated -0.4
Charleston County, SC 55.5 Elevated -0.4
Knox County, TN 55.5 Elevated -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lexington 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 Lexington 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 Lexington County, South Carolina?

    Lexington County has a County Distress Index score of 55.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,209th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 39th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lexington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lexington County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 66.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Lexington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lexington County (55.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Orangeburg County, SC (78.7); Richland County, SC (75.5); Calhoun County, SC (66.8).

  • 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). Lexington County's score of 55.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lexington 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 Lexington County?

    Lexington County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 309,528 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.