1st Advantage MortgageThe median Oconee County household earns $62,388, and 18% 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
- Oconee County at a glance
- Household income in Oconee County
- Employment and commuting in Oconee County
- What it costs to live in Oconee County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Oconee County
- A Oconee County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Oconee County borrowers
- More Oconee County figures
- Steps before you apply in Oconee County
- Checking a lender's license in South Carolina
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Oconee County at a glance
With an estimated 80,469 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Oconee County ranks 18th of 46 in South Carolina for population. Packed into 627 square miles, that is close to 128 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (5 incorporated, 8 census-designated); the largest is Seneca, with about 8,993 residents, or 11% of the county.
Household income in Oconee County
The median household income in Oconee County is $62,388; statewide it is $69,324, so Oconee County runs 10% below South Carolina as a whole. That places it 18th among South Carolina's 46 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Oconee County | +/- vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.1% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.3% | -1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -1.1 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. Census counts 17.6% of Oconee County residents in poverty, against 14.1% across South Carolina. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Oconee County median.
Employment and commuting in Oconee County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (17% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 5.2% of the total (5.7% statewide).
| Top industries | Oconee County share | +/- vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.9% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +2.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What it costs to live in Oconee County
A typical Oconee County rental runs $881 a month including utilities, which is 25% below South Carolina. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. Home values center on $237,100, or 3.8 years of median income. 76% of Oconee County households own their home and 24% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1990.
| Housing | Oconee County | South Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $881/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $237,100 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Oconee 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Stephens County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hart County, is 28 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Oconee County; Rabun County is highest at $67,493 and Franklin County lowest at $53,046. The list crosses into Georgia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconee County | - | $62,388 | $881/mo | 76% |
| Stephens County, GA | 19 mi | $54,754 | $820/mo | 74% |
| Pickens County, SC | 21 mi | $61,064 | $972/mo | 71% |
| Rabun County, GA | 22 mi | $67,493 | $1,047/mo | 77% |
| Franklin County, GA | 27 mi | $53,046 | $844/mo | 77% |
| Habersham County, GA | 28 mi | $67,309 | $974/mo | 73% |
| Hart County, GA | 28 mi | $59,385 | $844/mo | 78% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Oconee County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Oconee County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 23,179 residents, leaving about 71% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $36,327 in Walhalla to $124,788 in Keowee Key. Median rent ranges from $669 in Walhalla to $1,073 in Utica. No Oconee County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 13.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca | city | 8,993 | $52,022 | $807 | 7 mi |
| Walhalla | city | 4,157 | $36,327 | $669 | 1 mi |
| Keowee Key | CDP | 3,351 | $124,788 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Westminster | city | 2,521 | $40,946 | $715 | 6 mi |
| Utica | CDP | 1,339 | $55,179 | $1,073 | 9 mi |
| Fair Play | CDP | 757 | $82,083 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Chickasaw Point | CDP | 620 | $84,875 | n/a | 15 mi |
| South Union | CDP | 447 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Newry | CDP | 412 | $45,407 | n/a | 9 mi |
| West Union | town | 370 | $48,393 | $758 | 1 mi |
| Salem | town | 177 | $62,143 | $500 | 11 mi |
| Tamassee | CDP | 35 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Longcreek | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A Oconee County household budget, worked through
Oconee County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,199 a month: gross income for a household at the Oconee County median
- Median rent: $881, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,872 total minus rent leaves $991
If your rent is above $881, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Oconee County borrowers
Based on the Oconee County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 20% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Retirees. At a median age of 47.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Oconee County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
More Oconee County figures
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.9%, against 9.6% for South Carolina.
| Residents | Oconee County | South Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.7% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.6% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Oconee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.3% |
Steps before you apply in Oconee County
Steps that save money for Oconee County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Oconee County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for South Carolina borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in South Carolina
The South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's South Carolina license. The Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions handles consumer-credit questions as well. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the South Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Oconee County?
$62,388 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,324 for South Carolina. It ranks 18th of 46 in the state.
How does Oconee County rent compare with South Carolina?
$881 locally versus $1,180 for the state, 25% below.
Should Oconee County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Oconee County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Oconee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Seneca, Walhalla, Keowee Key, Westminster, Utica and 8 more.
Does living in Oconee 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 Oconee County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.