In Lancaster County, South Carolina, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Lancaster County, 15.4% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 60% of U.S. counties.
What drives Lancaster County's score
In Lancaster County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 53.9. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 31.7. The typical household earns $83,171 a year (2024), more than in 83% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Lancaster 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, Lancaster County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (25.3%, 2020 to 2024) and unemployment rate, average over the latest year (4.7%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 53.9 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202675th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.9% · 2020 to 202432nd percentile
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- 51.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.4% · August 202549th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.2% · August 202564th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.6% · second quarter of 202639th percentile
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- 46.1 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent25.3% · 2020 to 202487th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.4% · fiscal year 20274th percentile
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- 37.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.3% · August 202554th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people73 · 202521st percentile
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- 31.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.2% · 202423rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line13.3% · 202429th percentile
- People with a disability14.8% · 2020 to 202438th percentile
- People without health insurance7.9% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$83,171 · 202416th 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster County, 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Lancaster County
South Carolina
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Lancaster County had its largest rise, from 21.7% in 2004 to 26.7% in 2009.
In Lancaster County, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about four times its 1969 level, reaching 22.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Lancaster County, South Carolina, benefit checks' share of income grew to about four times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 22.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Lancaster County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 11.3% in 2009 to 13.9% in 2010.
The share of households in Lancaster County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen to 9.7%
Biggest drop: 2016 to 2017, reaching 11.4%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Lancaster County, South Carolina.
How Lancaster County has changed
Lancaster County's population had its largest rise in the last span, from 94,314 in 2019 to 111,652 in 2024.
Lancaster County's population more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 111,652, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1984 to 1989, reaching 54,223. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Lancaster County, South Carolina.
The number of jobs located in Lancaster County had its largest rise, from 15,765 in 2010 to 21,570 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Lancaster County fell to its lowest on the chart in 2010, then climbed past the 1990 level
Low on the chart: 15,765 in 2010. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Lancaster County, South Carolina.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.6% | 2025 4.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.9% | 2024 10.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,262 | 2024 $83,171 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Lancaster County's history
1984
A tornado in March 1984 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1989
A tornado in June 1989 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
A flood in January 2015 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 96,016, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2020
A thunderstorm in May 2020 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1977
24 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Lancaster County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Lancaster County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Lancaster County, in South Carolina and North Carolina, six score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Lancaster County ranks 5th of the eight; Chesterfield County is highest, at 35.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield County, SC | 91 | 16.9% | 34.0% |
| Chesterfield County, SC | 91 | 18.5% | 35.8% |
| Chester County, SC | 86 | 16.4% | 33.6% |
| Kershaw County, SC | 64 | 12.2% | 27.4% |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 49 | 10.6% | 12.0% |
| York County, SC | 42 | 8.8% | 17.1% |
| Lancaster County, SC | 39 | 10.2% | 22.8% |
| Union County, NC | 15 | 7.6% | 13.6% |
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 Lancaster County the poorest county in South Carolina?
No, Lancaster County's poverty rate was 10.2% in 2024, 41st 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, Lancaster County ranks 44th of 46 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Lancaster 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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South Carolina Legal Services
Legal aid
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Pro Bono Legal Services — SC Bar
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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.