In Saluda County, South Carolina, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Saluda County, 24.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 77% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 75% of U.S. counties.
What drives Saluda County's score
In Saluda County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 77.9. Income and the safety net comes next, at 70.8.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Saluda 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.
Saluda County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a credit card behind (4.1%, August 2025) and bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (115, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 77.9 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 rent23.0% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.0% · fiscal year 202777th percentile
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- 70.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line15.1% · 202465th percentile
- Children below the poverty line21.5% · 202470th percentile
- People with a disability16.8% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
- People without health insurance17.9% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$61,432 · 202466th percentile
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- 61.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.1% · August 202526th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind8.3% · August 202584th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score47.4% · second quarter of 202673rd percentile
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- 58.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector29.8% · August 202573rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people115 · 202543rd percentile
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- 56.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202648th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working23.2% · 2020 to 202464th 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 Saluda 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 Saluda County, 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Saluda County
South Carolina
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Saluda County had its largest rise, from 8.7% in 1969 to 13.7% in 1974.
In Saluda County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 28.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Saluda County, South Carolina, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Saluda County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 15.6% in 2010 to 18.5% in 2011.
The share of households in Saluda County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2011 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 12.4% in 2020. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Saluda County, South Carolina.
How Saluda County has changed
Saluda County's population had its largest rise, from 16,417 in 1989 to 17,791 in 1994.
Saluda County's population rose by about a third from 1969 to 2024, reaching 19,452
High on the chart: 19,677 in 2009. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Saluda County, South Carolina.
The number of jobs located in Saluda County had its largest rise, from 4,113 in 1995 to 4,681 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Saluda County was at its highest on the chart in 2020 and is down 9% since
High on the chart: 4,989 in 2020. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Saluda County, South Carolina.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.1% | 2025 3.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 16.6% | 2024 15.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,098 | 2024 $61,432 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Saluda County's history
1895
Founded 1895 from portions of Edgefield County. Wikipedia
1920
The county's largest recorded population was the 1920 Census count of 22,088. The 2020 Census counted 18,862, 85% of the peak. Census Bureau
1955
A tornado in March 1955 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1992
A tornado in November 1992 did $2.5 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1992
A tornado in November 1992 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1999
Hail in April 1999 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1977
22 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Saluda County, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
Saluda County beside its neighbors
Saluda County scores higher than all five counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Saluda County ranks 4th of the six; Greenwood County is highest, at 31.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saluda County, SC | 75 | 15.1% | 28.0% |
| Edgefield County, SC | 70 | 16.8% | 29.3% |
| Aiken County, SC | 68 | 13.7% | 26.1% |
| Newberry County, SC | 67 | 17.3% | 29.9% |
| Greenwood County, SC | 67 | 16.3% | 31.6% |
| Lexington County, SC | 47 | 11.3% | 20.5% |
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 Saluda County the poorest county in South Carolina?
No, Saluda County's poverty rate was 15.1% in 2024, 30th 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, Saluda County ranks 24th of 46 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Saluda 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 Saluda 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 Saluda County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.