1st Advantage MortgageThe median Kershaw County household earns $68,231, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Kershaw County
- Housing costs in Kershaw County
- Paychecks and income spread in Kershaw County
- Work, industries and travel time in Kershaw County
- The counties around Kershaw County
- Towns and communities in Kershaw County
- Kershaw County households compared
- Reading the Kershaw County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Kershaw County's medians
- Four steps for Kershaw County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Kershaw County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Kershaw County
Kershaw County is home to about 68,314 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 21st most populous of 46 county-level areas in South Carolina. Packed into 727 square miles, that is close to 94 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Columbia, SC metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Kershaw County, Lugoff leads by population with about 9,786; 3 of the 7 are incorporated.
Housing costs in Kershaw County
Renters in Kershaw County pay a median of $971 a month, 18% below the South Carolina figure of $1,180. 55% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $217,100, a typical Kershaw County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 82%. Median construction year: 1993.
| Home costs | Kershaw County | South Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $971/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $217,100 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.3% | 14.2% | n/a |
Because most Kershaw 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Paychecks and income spread in Kershaw County
Kershaw County households have a median income of $68,231 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 12th of 46 in South Carolina.
| Households earning | Kershaw County | +/- vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.0% | -1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | +0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -2.5 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.2% of Kershaw County residents in poverty, against 14.1% across South Carolina. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.454 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Kershaw County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Kershaw County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward finance, insurance and real estate (9% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Kershaw County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 81% drive to work alone and 22% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Kershaw County workers | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.6% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.1% | -1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.2% | -2.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.6% | +2.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Kershaw County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Kershaw County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 32 miles). Lancaster County leads the group on income ($78,869), Lee County trails ($44,760), and Kershaw County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kershaw County | - | $68,231 | $971/mo | 82% |
| Lee County, SC | 23 mi | $44,760 | $823/mo | 70% |
| Lancaster County, SC | 25 mi | $78,869 | $959/mo | 83% |
| Richland County, SC | 28 mi | $63,784 | $1,228/mo | 60% |
| Fairfield County, SC | 31 mi | $47,885 | $938/mo | 75% |
| Sumter County, SC | 32 mi | $56,693 | $1,057/mo | 68% |
| Chesterfield County, SC | 32 mi | $49,235 | $762/mo | 73% |
Towns and communities in Kershaw County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 37% of Kershaw County residents live in one of the 7. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $53,715 in East Camden to $91,667 in Elgin. Rent is cheapest in East Camden ($900) and steepest in Elgin ($1,278). Live in one of these Kershaw County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lugoff | CDP | 9,786 | $69,485 | $915 | 11 mi |
| Camden | city | 8,267 | $63,576 | $956 | 6 mi |
| East Camden | CDP | 4,194 | $53,715 | $900 | 5 mi |
| Elgin | town | 2,080 | $91,667 | $1,278 | 16 mi |
| Bethune | town | 438 | $44,000 | $1,591 | 15 mi |
| Abney Crossroads | CDP | 208 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Boykin | CDP | 122 | $136,576 | n/a | 15 mi |
Kershaw County households compared
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. 8.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Kershaw County | South Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.0% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.9% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Kershaw County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.2% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Reading the Kershaw County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Kershaw County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Kershaw County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 19% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 55% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Debt-to-income at Kershaw County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Kershaw County's medians:
- $5,686 a month: gross income for a household at the Kershaw County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($971)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,047 total minus rent leaves $1,076
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Four steps for Kershaw County borrowers
Quick steps for Kershaw County:
- Price the Kershaw County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Kershaw County
Consumer lenders serving Kershaw County are licensed by the state, not the county; in South Carolina that is 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. Statewide data and rules: South Carolina guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Kershaw County?
$68,231 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,324 for South Carolina. It ranks 12th of 46 in the state.
How much is rent in Kershaw County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $971 a month; 55% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Kershaw County?
By population: Lugoff, Camden, East Camden, Elgin, Bethune. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Can Kershaw 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 regulates personal lenders for Kershaw 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.