Pickens County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.4 | 135,495 people · 32nd most distressed in South Carolina
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Pickens County, SC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.4 — 858th 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 32nd of 46 counties. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pickens County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 82.9 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 82.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 37
Homeownership Rate 69
Economic Vitality 75.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 47
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Consumer Credit Distress 58.7
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 38
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 57
Subprime Credit Population 64
Structural Poverty 54.4
Unemployment Rate 83
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 46
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 43
Legal Distress 8.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pickens County
Pickens County, SC 61.4 Elevated —
Anderson County, SC 57.8 Elevated -3.6
Greenville County, SC 53.9 Elevated -7.5
Oconee County, SC 47.0 Normal -14.4
Transylvania County, NC 45.5 Normal -15.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pickens County
McMinn County, TN 61.4 Elevated +0.0
Charles County, MD 61.4 Elevated -0.0
Livingston Parish, LA 61.3 Elevated -0.1
Rowan County, NC 61.2 Elevated -0.1
Bastrop County, TX 61.1 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pickens 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 Pickens 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 Pickens County, South Carolina?

    Pickens County has a County Distress Index score of 61.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 858th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 32nd in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pickens County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pickens County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 82.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Pickens County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pickens County (61.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Anderson County, SC (57.8); Greenville County, SC (53.9); Oconee County, SC (47.0).

  • 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). Pickens County's score of 61.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pickens 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 Pickens County?

    Pickens County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 135,495 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.