Spartanburg County, South Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.1 | 356,698 people · 33rd most distressed in South Carolina
American Default Research

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Spartanburg County, SC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.1 — 1275th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within South Carolina, it ranks 33rd of 46 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Spartanburg County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 63.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 63.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 51
Homeownership Rate 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Debt & Delinquency 60.0
Debt in Collections 77
Medical Debt 31
Student Loan Delinquency 67
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28
Community Vulnerability 57.8
Uninsured Rate 70
Disability Rate 45
Income & Poverty 46.1
Poverty Rate 54
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 60
Employment & Wages 42.9
Unemployment Rate 78
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Spartanburg County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County, SC 54.1 Elevated —
Union County, SC 74.8 Serious +20.6
Rutherford County, NC 64.5 Elevated +10.3
Laurens County, SC 64.4 Elevated +10.3
Cherokee County, SC 58.4 Elevated +4.3
Polk County, NC 49.1 Normal -5.0
Greenville County, SC 45.1 Normal -9.0

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Spartanburg County
Guilford County, NC 54.2 Elevated +0.0
Lake County, IN 54.4 Elevated +0.2
Manatee County, FL 53.8 Elevated -0.4
Jefferson County, AL 54.5 Elevated +0.4
Berks County, PA 53.7 Elevated -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Spartanburg County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Spartanburg County.

REGENESIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION F/K/A UPSTATE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
Spartanburg
864-504-3090
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
TELAMON CORPORATION - GREENVILLE BRANCH
Spartanburg
919-899-9911 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in South Carolina →

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 Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg County, South Carolina?

    Spartanburg County has a County Distress Index score of 54.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,275th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in South Carolina out of 46 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Spartanburg County?

    The primary driver of distress in Spartanburg County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 63.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Spartanburg County compare to neighboring counties?

    Spartanburg County (54.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Union County, SC (74.8); Rutherford County, NC (64.5); Laurens County, SC (64.4).

  • 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 Spartanburg County?

    Spartanburg County, South Carolina has a population of approximately 356,698 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.