1st Advantage MortgageIn Greenwood County, South Carolina, the typical household earns $52,830 a year and the typical rent is $898. 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
- Population and place: Greenwood County
- Homes and rents, Greenwood County
- Where Greenwood County differs from the rest of South Carolina
- Greenwood County income bands
- Employment and commuting in Greenwood County
- Greenwood and the rest of Greenwood County
- Greenwood County and the counties next door
- Local borrowing considerations for Greenwood County
- Greenwood County households compared
- $4,402 a month: the Greenwood County median budget
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Greenwood County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Greenwood County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Greenwood County's population at 69,489; only 18 of South Carolina's 46 county-level areas are larger. It covers 456 square miles of land, or about 153 people per square mile. Greenwood County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Greenwood (22,536 people) heads the county's list of 8 Census places, 4 incorporated and 4 census-designated.
Homes and rents, Greenwood County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $898 in Greenwood County versus $1,180 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. With a median value of $180,500, a typical Greenwood County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 67%, renters 33%.
| Cost | Greenwood County | South Carolina figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 67% | 72% | -4.9 pts |
| Mobile homes | 10.1% | 14.2% | -4.2 pts |
| Median home value | $180,500 | $259,000 | 30% lower |
| Median gross rent | $898/mo | $1,180/mo | 24% lower |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 26% | +2.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | -2.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 12% | 13% | -1.3 pts |
Where Greenwood County differs from the rest of South Carolina
Ranked against the other 45 county-level areas in South Carolina, these are the Greenwood County figures furthest from the middle.
- Greenwood County ranks 3rd lowest of 46 South Carolina counties for the uninsured rate: 7.4%, against 9.6% statewide. Lower uninsured rates still leave deductibles; check what a plan covers first.
- On the share of commutes over 45 minutes, Greenwood County sits near the bottom of South Carolina at 11%, 5th lowest of 46. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
- On the share of mobile homes, Greenwood County sits near the bottom of South Carolina at 10.1%, 6th lowest of 46. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
Greenwood County income bands
Greenwood County households have a median income of $52,830 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 27th of 46 in South Carolina.
| Households earning | Greenwood County | +/- vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +7.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.1% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -4.5 pts |
Six-figure households (23%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (32%) in Greenwood County. The poverty rate is 15.1%, 1 point higher than the state's 14.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.471 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Greenwood County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Greenwood County
The biggest employer of Greenwood County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by manufacturing (23%). Relative to South Carolina (13%), manufacturing is 10 points bigger in Greenwood County (23%). Unemployment in Greenwood County, ACS five-year: 5.5%; South Carolina: 4.9%. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Greenwood County | Gap to South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 22.9% | +9.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -4.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Greenwood and the rest of Greenwood County
25,964 of Greenwood County's 69,489 residents live in its 8 Census places (37%); the 8 largest are listed. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwood | city | 22,536 | $41,150 | $839 | 3 mi |
| Ninety Six | town | 2,521 | $55,417 | $845 | 6 mi |
| Cokesbury | CDP | 267 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Hodges | town | 193 | $60,750 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Troy | town | 177 | $48,250 | $1,321 | 15 mi |
| Promised Land | CDP | 143 | $44,293 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Bradley | CDP | 90 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Coronaca | CDP | 37 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Greenwood County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 31 miles). Edgefield County leads the group on income ($73,029), Saluda County trails ($51,009), and Greenwood County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in Georgia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Greenwood County resident follows South Carolina rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwood County | - | $52,830 | $898/mo | 67% |
| Abbeville County, SC | 19 mi | $52,935 | $799/mo | 78% |
| McCormick County, SC | 21 mi | $55,798 | $696/mo | 88% |
| Laurens County, SC | 24 mi | $57,623 | $880/mo | 71% |
| Saluda County, SC | 25 mi | $51,009 | $851/mo | 79% |
| Edgefield County, SC | 28 mi | $73,029 | $720/mo | 80% |
| Lincoln County, GA | 31 mi | $56,907 | $786/mo | 77% |
Local borrowing considerations for Greenwood County
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Greenwood County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Greenwood County households compared
In Greenwood County, 25% of adults have at least a four-year degree (32% in South Carolina). About 7% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Greenwood County | Difference from South Carolina | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | -0.1 yrs | -1.4 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.7% | -7.5 pts | +2.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | +1.6 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.4% | -2.2 pts | -0.4 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.4% | +1.7 pts | +2.0 pts |
| Work from home | 4.1% | -7.4 pts | -4.6 pts |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | +1.0 pts | +1.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | +0.6 pts | +1.1 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Greenwood County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
$4,402 a month: the Greenwood County median budget
Greenwood County's $52,830 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Start: $4,402 gross per month ($52,830 / 12)
- Median rent: $898, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $687 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Greenwood County's.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Greenwood County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Greenwood County-area credit union.
- A South Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Greenwood County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Greenwood County resident can confirm its license with the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. South Carolina also has the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions for consumer credit. Nationally, Greenwood County residents can file with the CFPB. See the South Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
No city in Greenwood County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Greenwood County a high-income county?
Its $52,830 median ranks 27th of 46 South Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Greenwood County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $898 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Greenwood County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Greenwood, Ninety Six, Cokesbury, Hodges, Troy and 3 more.
Can Greenwood 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Greenwood County?
Start with the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.