Orangeburg County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 78.7 | 82,820 people · 3rd most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Orangeburg County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 78.7 — 91st 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 3rd of 46 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 8 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Orangeburg County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 92.7 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 92.7
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 79
Auto Loan Delinquency 96
Credit Card Delinquency 99
Uninsured Rate 64
Subprime Credit Population 99
Structural Poverty 79.6
Unemployment Rate 99
Poverty Rate 90
Income vs. State Median 77
Child Poverty Rate 89
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 88
Legal Distress 72.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Housing Cost Burden 72.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 87
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 82
Economic Vitality 25.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 9
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 9
House Price Change (YoY) 63

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Orangeburg County
Orangeburg County, SC 78.7 Serious —
Bamberg County, SC 79.8 Serious +1.1
Barnwell County, SC 77.4 Serious -1.3
Colleton County, SC 75.3 Serious -3.4
Clarendon County, SC 74.4 Serious -4.3
Dorchester County, SC 67.4 Serious -11.3
Calhoun County, SC 66.8 Serious -11.9
Berkeley County, SC 63.5 Elevated -15.2
Aiken County, SC 59.9 Elevated -18.8
Lexington County, SC 55.9 Elevated -22.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Orangeburg County
Cumberland County, NJ 78.8 Serious +0.1
Liberty County, GA 79.0 Serious +0.3
Douglas County, GA 78.0 Serious -0.7
Christian County, KY 77.9 Serious -0.8
Tangipahoa Parish, LA 77.8 Serious -0.9

Download Data

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

Find Help in Orangeburg County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Orangeburg County.

NEW AMERICA CORPORATION
Orangeburg
803-534-0035
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
SOUTHEASTERN HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FKA SOUTHEASTERN HOUSING FOUNDATION
Orangeburg
803-259-3588 Website
Financial CounselingFair HousingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg County, South Carolina?

    Orangeburg County has a County Distress Index score of 78.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 91st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Orangeburg County?

    The primary driver of distress in Orangeburg County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 92.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Orangeburg County compare to neighboring counties?

    Orangeburg County (78.7) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Bamberg County, SC (79.8); Barnwell County, SC (77.4); Colleton County, SC (75.3).

  • 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). Orangeburg County's score of 78.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg County?

    Orangeburg County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 82,820 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.