1st Advantage MortgageThe median Newberry County household earns $61,780, and 17% 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
- Newberry County, SC: the basics
- How much Newberry County households make
- How Newberry County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Newberry County
- Newberry County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Newberry County
- A Newberry County household budget, worked through
- Newberry County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Newberry County
- Checklist for Newberry County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Newberry County residents
- More guides for Newberry County
- Frequently asked questions
Newberry County, SC: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Newberry County's population at 38,435; only 26 of South Carolina's 46 county-level areas are larger. It covers 630 square miles of land, or about 61 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Newberry County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (7 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Newberry, with about 10,790 residents, or 28% of the county.
How much Newberry County households make
Newberry County households have a median income of $61,780 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 19th of 46 in South Carolina.
| Band | Newberry County | Compared with South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.8% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.1% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -4.8 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. Census counts 17.4% of Newberry County residents in poverty, against 14.1% across South Carolina. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.441 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $61,780 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Newberry County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Newberry County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (20%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 20% locally and 13% for South Carolina. The survey's unemployment rate for Newberry County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Only 6.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Newberry County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.8% | +6.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Other services | 7.0% | +2.0 pts |
| Public administration | 5.6% | +1.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Newberry County
Renters in Newberry County pay a median of $872 a month, 26% below the South Carolina figure of $1,180. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. With a median value of $173,300, a typical Newberry County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 73% of Newberry County households own their home and 27% rent.
| Home costs | Newberry County | South Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $872/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $173,300 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.6% | 14.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 13% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Newberry County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Newberry County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 33 miles). Income ranges from $41,621 in Union County to $77,408 in Lexington County; 1 of these neighbors top Newberry County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry County | - | $61,780 | $872/mo | 73% |
| Saluda County, SC | 21 mi | $51,009 | $851/mo | 79% |
| Laurens County, SC | 27 mi | $57,623 | $880/mo | 71% |
| Union County, SC | 28 mi | $41,621 | $804/mo | 71% |
| Fairfield County, SC | 28 mi | $47,885 | $938/mo | 75% |
| Greenwood County, SC | 32 mi | $52,830 | $898/mo | 67% |
| Lexington County, SC | 33 mi | $77,408 | $1,178/mo | 77% |
The communities that make up Newberry County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Newberry County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 15,101 people, so roughly 61% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $62,958 at the median in Prosperity, $37,837 in Whitmire. Rent is cheapest in Whitmire ($802) and steepest in Helena ($931). Live in one of these Newberry County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry | city | 10,790 | $51,260 | $831 | 1 mi |
| Whitmire | town | 1,319 | $37,837 | $802 | 15 mi |
| Prosperity | town | 1,318 | $62,958 | $827 | 7 mi |
| Helena | CDP | 716 | $38,651 | $931 | 3 mi |
| Little Mountain | town | 368 | $91,250 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Silverstreet | town | 330 | $96,250 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Pomaria | town | 152 | $63,750 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Peak | town | 108 | $138,472 | $1,056 | 16 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
A Newberry County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Newberry County's medians:
- $61,780 a year is $5,148 of gross monthly income
- 17% goes to median rent ($872)
- Under a 40% cap, $2,059 total minus rent leaves $1,187
If your rent is above $872, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Newberry County households compared
23% of Newberry County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Newberry County | South Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.1% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.2% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.3% |
| 60+ min | 11.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Newberry County
Based on the Newberry County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 23% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 22% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Checklist for Newberry County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in South Carolina.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Newberry County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Newberry County borrowers answers to the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions handles consumer-credit questions as well. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the South Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Newberry County
The South Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Newberry County a high-income county?
Its $61,780 median ranks 19th of 46 South Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Newberry County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $872 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Newberry County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Newberry County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Newberry County?
By population: Newberry, Whitmire, Prosperity, Helena, Little Mountain. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Does living in Newberry County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Newberry County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.