York County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.5 | 298,320 people · 38th most distressed in South Carolina
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York County, SC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.5 — 1175th 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 38th of 46 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. York County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 73.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 73.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 55
Economic Vitality 70.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 88
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 15
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Consumer Credit Distress 59.9
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 76
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 59
Legal Distress 33.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33
Structural Poverty 19.9
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 17
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 19
Disability Rate 7
Transfer Income Dependency 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. York County
York County, SC 56.5 Elevated —
Union County, SC 71.4 Serious +15.0
Gaston County, NC 70.7 Serious +14.3
Chester County, SC 70.5 Serious +14.1
Cleveland County, NC 69.7 Serious +13.2
Cherokee County, SC 63.8 Elevated +7.4
Mecklenburg County, NC 57.6 Elevated +1.1
Lancaster County, SC 49.3 Normal -7.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. York County
Chesapeake city, VA 56.5 Elevated 0.0
Montgomery County, TX 56.3 Elevated -0.2
Ingham County, MI 56.9 Elevated +0.4
Summit County, OH 56.9 Elevated +0.4
Lexington County, SC 55.9 Elevated -0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in York 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 York 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 York County, South Carolina?

    York County has a County Distress Index score of 56.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,175th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in York County?

    The primary driver of distress in York County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 73.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does York County compare to neighboring counties?

    York County (56.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Union County, SC (71.4); Gaston County, NC (70.7); Chester County, SC (70.5).

  • 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). York County's score of 56.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    York 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 York County?

    York County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 298,320 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.