Spartanburg County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.2 | 356,698 people · 33rd most distressed in South Carolina
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Spartanburg County, SC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.2 — 870th 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 33rd of 46 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Spartanburg County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 70.6 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 70.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 51
Homeownership Rate 57
Consumer Credit Distress 70.6
Debt in Collections 77
Medical Debt 31
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 77
Structural Poverty 44.6
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 54
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 45
Transfer Income Dependency 28
Economic Vitality 41.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 10
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Legal Distress 28.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County, SC 61.2 Elevated —
Union County, SC 71.4 Serious +10.2
Laurens County, SC 66.3 Serious +5.0
Rutherford County, NC 64.2 Elevated +2.9
Cherokee County, SC 63.8 Elevated +2.6
Greenville County, SC 53.9 Elevated -7.3
Polk County, NC 42.2 Normal -19.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Spartanburg County
Lehigh County, PA 61.2 Elevated -0.0
Hudson County, NJ 61.3 Elevated +0.1
Hays County, TX 61.1 Elevated -0.1
Cobb County, GA 61.0 Elevated -0.2
St. Clair County, IL 61.5 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Spartanburg County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Spartanburg County.

REGENESIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION F/K/A UPSTATE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
Spartanburg
864-504-3090
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
TELAMON CORPORATION - GREENVILLE BRANCH
Spartanburg
919-899-9911 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg County, South Carolina?

    Spartanburg County has a County Distress Index score of 61.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 870th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Spartanburg County?

    The primary driver of distress in Spartanburg County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 70.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Spartanburg County compare to neighboring counties?

    Spartanburg County (61.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Union County, SC (71.4); Laurens County, SC (66.3); Rutherford County, NC (64.2).

  • 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). Spartanburg County's score of 61.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg County?

    Spartanburg County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 356,698 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.