Richland County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 75.5 | 425,138 people · 7th most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Richland County, SC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 75.5 — 164th 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 7th of 46 counties. It scores higher 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. Richland County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 93.3 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 93.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 97
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 97
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 69
Homeownership Rate 93
Consumer Credit Distress 81.8
Debt in Collections 87
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 93
Credit Card Delinquency 87
Uninsured Rate 56
Subprime Credit Population 90
Legal Distress 67.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 67
Economic Vitality 48.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 45
Rent-to-Income Ratio 79
Business Formation Rate 7
House Price Change (YoY) 58
Structural Poverty 47.3
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 67
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 34
Transfer Income Dependency 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Richland County
Richland County, SC 75.5 Serious —
Fairfield County, SC 74.7 Serious -0.9
Sumter County, SC 74.1 Serious -1.4
Calhoun County, SC 66.8 Serious -8.8
Newberry County, SC 66.3 Serious -9.3
Kershaw County, SC 64.7 Elevated -10.9
Lexington County, SC 55.9 Elevated -19.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Richland County
DeKalb County, GA 75.7 Serious +0.2
Mobile County, AL 76.2 Serious +0.7
Nueces County, TX 76.3 Serious +0.8
Lubbock County, TX 74.3 Serious -1.2
Cumberland County, NC 74.3 Serious -1.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Richland County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Richland County.

NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - COLUMBIA, SC
COLUMBIA
803-255-0223 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase

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 Richland 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 Richland County, South Carolina?

    Richland County has a County Distress Index score of 75.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 164th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Richland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Richland County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 93.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Richland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Richland County (75.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Fairfield County, SC (74.7); Sumter County, SC (74.1); 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 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). Richland County's score of 75.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Richland 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 Richland County?

    Richland County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 425,138 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.