1st Advantage MortgageThe median Allendale County household earns $32,328, and 28% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's South Carolina license first.
On this page
- Allendale County at a glance
- Income in Allendale County compared with South Carolina
- Allendale County housing compared with South Carolina
- Work, industries and travel time in Allendale County
- The counties around Allendale County
- The communities that make up Allendale County
- More Allendale County figures
- Reading the Allendale County data as a borrower
- What a median Allendale County budget can carry
- South Carolina rules that apply in Allendale County
- A Allendale County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Allendale County at a glance
Roughly 7,661 residents live in Allendale County, South Carolina, 46th by population among the state's 46 counties and county equivalents. It covers 408 square miles of land, or about 19 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Allendale County is not part of any metropolitan area. Allendale is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 2,653 people (35% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Allendale County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Allendale County compared with South Carolina
The median household income in Allendale County is $32,328; statewide it is $69,324, so Allendale County runs 53% below South Carolina as a whole. In the state ranking that is 46th of 46.
| Income band | Share in Allendale County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 51.4% | +26.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.6% | -8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.6% | -12.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -5.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 15% of Allendale County households make $100,000 or more, and 51% make less than $35,000. 28.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.554 here. None of these numbers decides a Allendale County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Allendale County housing compared with South Carolina
Renters in Allendale County pay a median of $662 a month, 44% below the South Carolina figure of $1,180. By the Census definition, 45% of Allendale County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $76,200, or 2.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 62% of homes.
| Home costs | Allendale County | South Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $662/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $76,200 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.8% | 14.2% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Allendale County
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Allendale County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Education and health care stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 22% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 8.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 84% drive to work alone and 32% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Allendale County | Gap to South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.3% | +8.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.2% | +6.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | -2.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -3.8 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | +3.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Allendale County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 38 miles). Burke County leads the group on income ($53,014), Bamberg County trails ($44,370), and Allendale County out-earns 0 of the six. The list crosses into Georgia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allendale County | - | $32,328 | $662/mo | 62% |
| Hampton County, SC | 19 mi | $44,711 | $843/mo | 73% |
| Barnwell County, SC | 20 mi | $46,626 | $740/mo | 71% |
| Screven County, GA | 22 mi | $52,792 | $679/mo | 70% |
| Bamberg County, SC | 24 mi | $44,370 | $815/mo | 70% |
| Burke County, GA | 37 mi | $53,014 | $758/mo | 70% |
| Jenkins County, GA | 38 mi | $44,389 | $535/mo | 82% |
The communities that make up Allendale County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Allendale County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 4,846 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. No Allendale County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allendale | town | 2,653 | $23,529 | $568 | 4 mi |
| Fairfax | town | 1,935 | $40,649 | $662 | 7 mi |
| Ulmer | town | 190 | $90,192 | $1,656 | 12 mi |
| Sycamore | town | 68 | n/a | $422 | 9 mi |
More Allendale County figures
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. 12.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Allendale County | South Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.3% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.5% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.1% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 18.0% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 28.2% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 24.0% |
Reading the Allendale County data as a borrower
Based on the Allendale County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Long drives. With 32% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Allendale County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 23% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Assistance before credit. With a 28% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Allendale County loan.
What a median Allendale County budget can carry
How much room does a median Allendale County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $2,694 gross per month ($32,328 / 12)
- Less median rent of $662, which is 25% of it
- $416: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $662, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
South Carolina rules that apply in Allendale County
Allendale County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. Consumer lending in South Carolina is also overseen by the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on South Carolina: South Carolina personal loans.
A Allendale County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Allendale County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Allendale County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for South Carolina borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Allendale County?
$32,328 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,324 for South Carolina. It ranks 46th of 46 in the state.
How much is rent in Allendale County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $662 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Allendale County?
By population: Allendale, Fairfax, Ulmer, Sycamore. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Can Allendale County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every South Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Allendale County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In South Carolina it is the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions.