Lancaster County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.8 | 108,215 people · 46th most distressed in South Carolina
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Lancaster County, SC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.8 — 2359th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Debt & Delinquency, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within South Carolina, it ranks 46th of 46 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Lancaster County's primary driver is Debt & Delinquency at 50.3 — above the national median.

Debt & Delinquency Primary driver 50.3
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 50
Student Loan Delinquency 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 21
Housing Cost Burden 45.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 89
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 8
Community Vulnerability 43.5
Uninsured Rate 52
Disability Rate 35
Employment & Wages 37.6
Unemployment Rate 82
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 26
Income & Poverty 22.2
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 11
Child Poverty Rate 28

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Lancaster County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Lancaster County
Lancaster County, SC 39.8 Normal —
Fairfield County, SC 69.5 Serious +29.7
Chesterfield County, SC 68.3 Serious +28.5
Chester County, SC 64.0 Elevated +24.2
Kershaw County, SC 52.7 Elevated +12.9
York County, SC 46.0 Normal +6.2
Mecklenburg County, NC 44.0 Normal +4.2
Union County, NC 31.9 Healthy -7.9

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Lancaster County
Comal County, TX 39.8 Normal -0.0
Flathead County, MT 39.9 Normal +0.1
Carroll County, NH 39.7 Normal -0.1
Island County, WA 39.9 Normal +0.1
La Plata County, CO 39.6 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster County, South Carolina?

    Lancaster County has a County Distress Index score of 39.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,359th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 46th in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lancaster County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lancaster County is Debt & Delinquency, where the county scores 50.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Student Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Lancaster County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lancaster County (39.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Fairfield County, SC (69.5); Chesterfield County, SC (68.3); Chester County, SC (64.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Lancaster County?

    Lancaster County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 108,215 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.