1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Edgefield County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $73,029. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Edgefield County, SC: the basics
- Renting and owning in Edgefield County
- Income in Edgefield County compared with South Carolina
- Employment and commuting in Edgefield County
- The counties around Edgefield County
- The communities that make up Edgefield County
- Edgefield County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Edgefield County
- Budget math at the Edgefield County median
- Before you sign
- South Carolina rules that apply in Edgefield County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Edgefield County, SC: the basics
With an estimated 27,476 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Edgefield County ranks 34th of 46 in South Carolina for population. Land area is 501 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 55 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). North Augusta is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 25,653 people (93% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Edgefield County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $720 in Edgefield County versus $1,180 statewide. By the Census definition, 51% of Edgefield County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $202,700, or 2.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 80% of homes.
| Edgefield County | South Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $720/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $202,700 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.7% | 14.2% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Income in Edgefield County compared with South Carolina
The median household income in Edgefield County is $73,029; statewide it is $69,324, so Edgefield County runs 5% above South Carolina as a whole.
| Household income | Edgefield County | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.9% | +5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.5% | -7.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.0% | +5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -3.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Edgefield County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 17.8%, 4 points higher than the state's 14.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.452 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $73,029 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Edgefield County
The biggest employer of Edgefield County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward construction (11% against 7%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Edgefield County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.3% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | -2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -2.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Edgefield County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Edgefield County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 28 miles). Income ranges from $51,009 in Saluda County to $95,592 in Columbia County; 1 of these neighbors top Edgefield County's median. Some neighbors are in Georgia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Edgefield County resident follows South Carolina rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgefield County | - | $73,029 | $720/mo | 80% |
| Saluda County, SC | 20 mi | $51,009 | $851/mo | 79% |
| McCormick County, SC | 22 mi | $55,798 | $696/mo | 88% |
| Columbia County, GA | 23 mi | $95,592 | $1,409/mo | 78% |
| Aiken County, SC | 25 mi | $70,609 | $1,062/mo | 77% |
| Greenwood County, SC | 28 mi | $52,830 | $898/mo | 67% |
| Lincoln County, GA | 28 mi | $56,907 | $786/mo | 77% |
The communities that make up Edgefield County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Edgefield County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 33,117 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $89,531 at the median in Murphys Estates, $34,412 in Johnston. Rent is cheapest in Johnston ($491) and steepest in North Augusta ($1,169). No Edgefield County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Augusta | city | 25,653 | $86,092 | $1,169 | 18 mi |
| Edgefield | town | 4,010 | $39,688 | $731 | 2 mi |
| Johnston | town | 2,132 | $34,412 | $491 | 10 mi |
| Murphys Estates | CDP | 1,064 | $89,531 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Trenton | town | 258 | $57,083 | $930 | 7 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Edgefield County residents: age, schooling, coverage
23% of Edgefield County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.0%, against 9.6% for South Carolina.
| Edgefield County | South Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.3% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.4% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.8% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Edgefield County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Edgefield County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 25% of Edgefield County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of Edgefield County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Budget math at the Edgefield County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Edgefield County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $73,029 a year is $6,086 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $720, takes 12% of that
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,410 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $2,019 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Edgefield County's.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Edgefield County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Edgefield County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in South Carolina.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
South Carolina rules that apply in Edgefield County
Edgefield 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. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The South Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The South Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Edgefield County household make?
About $73,029 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 5% above the South Carolina median.
How much is rent in Edgefield County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $720 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Edgefield County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Edgefield County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Edgefield County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: North Augusta, Edgefield, Johnston, Murphys Estates, Trenton.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Edgefield County or elsewhere in South Carolina, the same rules apply.