1st Advantage MortgageThe median Anderson County household earns $66,651, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in South Carolina before sharing details.
On this page
- Anderson County, SC: the basics
- Employment and commuting in Anderson County
- Household income in Anderson County
- What it costs to live in Anderson County
- Anderson County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Anderson County
- Budget math at the Anderson County median
- Borrowing situations common in Anderson County
- Who lives in Anderson County, in numbers
- Who licenses lenders for Anderson County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Anderson County
- Frequently asked questions
Anderson County, SC: the basics
With an estimated 210,478 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Anderson County ranks 9th of 46 in South Carolina for population. Land area is 714 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 295 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Anderson is the biggest of its 16 Census places, at roughly 30,051 people (14% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Anderson County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 19%. Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (19% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Anderson County. About 80% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Anderson County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.4% | +6.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.3% | -2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -1.9 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | -0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Anderson County
The median household income in Anderson County is $66,651; statewide it is $69,324, so Anderson County runs 4% below South Carolina as a whole. Only 13 South Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Anderson County | Gap to South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | +1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.2% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.0 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.6%, the same as the state's 14.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.467 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $66,651 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Anderson County
A typical Anderson County rental runs $989 a month including utilities, which is 16% below South Carolina. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $231,900, about 3.5 times the median household income. 75% of Anderson County households own their home and 25% rent.
| Anderson County | South Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $989/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $231,900 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 26% | n/a |
Because most Anderson County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Anderson County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Hart County at 22 miles out to Elbert County at 30. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Anderson County; Greenville County is highest at $76,932 and Abbeville County lowest at $52,935. Some neighbors are in Georgia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Anderson County resident follows South Carolina rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | - | $66,651 | $989/mo | 75% |
| Hart County, GA | 22 mi | $59,385 | $844/mo | 78% |
| Abbeville County, SC | 23 mi | $52,935 | $799/mo | 78% |
| Pickens County, SC | 26 mi | $61,064 | $972/mo | 71% |
| Oconee County, SC | 29 mi | $62,388 | $881/mo | 76% |
| Greenville County, SC | 30 mi | $76,932 | $1,262/mo | 69% |
| Elbert County, GA | 30 mi | $58,450 | $844/mo | 71% |
The communities that make up Anderson County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 47% of Anderson County residents live in one of the 16. Incomes vary by place: $89,635 at the median in Northlake, $25,000 in Iva. Median rent ranges from $772 in Honea Path to $1,232 in Powdersville. Names with links open a city guide. The other 15 places are covered here.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | city | 30,051 | $46,933 | $975 | 0 mi |
| Clemson | city | 18,072 | $49,520 | $1,007 | 15 mi |
| Powdersville | CDP | 10,771 | $84,910 | $1,232 | 20 mi |
| Centerville | CDP | 7,049 | $64,380 | $1,103 | 4 mi |
| Homeland Park | CDP | 6,632 | $40,218 | $829 | 4 mi |
| Belton | city | 4,458 | $49,107 | $972 | 8 mi |
| Northlake | CDP | 4,390 | $89,635 | $1,038 | 4 mi |
| Williamston | town | 4,170 | $64,389 | $899 | 11 mi |
| Honea Path | town | 3,739 | $32,900 | $772 | 15 mi |
| Pendleton | town | 3,594 | $61,901 | $1,034 | 12 mi |
| Pelzer | town | 1,722 | $58,134 | $1,029 | 13 mi |
| West Pelzer | town | 1,320 | $53,750 | $819 | 13 mi |
| Sandy Springs | CDP | 1,105 | $70,833 | $976 | 9 mi |
| Iva | town | 972 | $25,000 | $774 | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the Anderson County median
Here is the Anderson County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,554 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $989 uses 18%
- $1,011: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Anderson County's.
Borrowing situations common in Anderson County
What the Anderson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Anderson County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 15% of Anderson County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Who lives in Anderson County, in numbers
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Anderson County | South Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.5% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Anderson County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Who licenses lenders for Anderson County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Anderson County, check 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. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the South Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Anderson County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Anderson County
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Anderson County household make?
About $66,651 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 4% below the South Carolina median.
Is Anderson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $989 against $1,180 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Anderson?
Yes, along with the other 15 Census places in Anderson County, such as Clemson, Powdersville, Centerville.
Will a Anderson County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming South Carolina as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Anderson County residents?
The South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in South Carolina; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.