In Charleston County, South Carolina, benefit checks make up only 14 cents of every dollar of income
In Charleston County, 13.7% of all the income people there received came from benefit checks. That is lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 61% of U.S. counties.
What drives Charleston County's score
In Charleston County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 84.8. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 25.7. The typical household earns $92,635 a year (2024), more than in 91% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Charleston County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Charleston County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (25.9%, 2020 to 2024) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (24.4%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 84.8 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent25.9% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.4% · fiscal year 202780th percentile
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- 45.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.7% · August 202536th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.5% · August 202567th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score36.0% · second quarter of 202633rd percentile
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- 34.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector23.9% · August 202552nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people63.2 · 202516th percentile
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- 27.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202636th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.3% · 2020 to 202417th percentile
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- 25.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.3% · 202424th percentile
- Children below the poverty line13.7% · 202431st percentile
- People with a disability11.2% · 2020 to 20249th percentile
- People without health insurance8.3% · 2020 to 202454th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$92,635 · 20248th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Charleston County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Charleston County, 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Charleston County
South Carolina
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Charleston County had its largest rise, from 13.6% in 2004 to 16.6% in 2009.
In Charleston County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 13.7% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Charleston County, South Carolina, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 13.7%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Charleston County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 8.0% in 2019 to 6.8% in 2020.
The share of households in Charleston County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 6.4%
Low on the chart: 6.2% in 2023. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Charleston County, South Carolina.
How Charleston County has changed
Charleston County's population had its largest rise, from 346,795 in 2009 to 376,555 in 2014.
Charleston County's population nearly doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 431,001, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1994 to 1999, reaching 309,247. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Charleston County, South Carolina.
The number of jobs located in Charleston County had its largest rise in the last span, from 242,243 in 2020 to 283,985 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Charleston County doubled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 283,985, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1990 to 1995, reaching 159,028. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Charleston County, South Carolina.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.0% | 2025 3.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 17.9% | 2024 10.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,371 | 2024 $92,635 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Charleston County's history
1800
Chartered in 1785 but dissolved, then redrawn in 1798 with boundary lines taking effect January 1, 1800. Wikipedia
1960
A tornado in September 1960 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2001
Lightning in September 2001 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2005
Lightning in June 2005 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 408,235, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2023
A flash flood in December 2023 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1977
27 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Charleston County, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
Charleston County beside its neighbors
All four counties that border Charleston County score higher than it does. Of the group, Charleston County gets the smallest share of its income from benefit checks; Colleton County gets the largest, at 35.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleton County, SC | 92 | 21.0% | 35.4% |
| Georgetown County, SC | 66 | 17.4% | 28.5% |
| Dorchester County, SC | 62 | 9.1% | 23.2% |
| Berkeley County, SC | 58 | 8.9% | 19.1% |
| Charleston County, SC | 38 | 10.3% | 13.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Charleston County the poorest county in South Carolina?
No, Charleston County's poverty rate was 10.3% in 2024, 40th highest of 46 in South Carolina (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Allendale County, at 31.6%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Charleston County ranks 45th of 46 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Charleston County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Credit.org - North Charleston, SC Branch
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Increasing H.o.p.e. Financial Training Center
HUD-approved housing counselor
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NSC (NACA Counseling Subsidiary) - Charleston, SC
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services
Legal aid
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South Carolina Legal Services
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Charleston County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Charleston County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.