1st Advantage MortgageOrangeburg County households have a median income of $45,675 and median rent of $841 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Orangeburg County, SC: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Orangeburg County
- How much Orangeburg County households make
- How Orangeburg County residents earn a living
- Orangeburg County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Orangeburg County
- More Orangeburg County figures
- Reading the Orangeburg County data as a borrower
- A Orangeburg County household budget, worked through
- Lender oversight for Orangeburg County
- Checklist for Orangeburg County applicants
- More guides for Orangeburg County
- Frequently asked questions
Orangeburg County, SC: the basics
Roughly 83,253 residents live in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, 17th by population among the state's 46 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 1,106 square miles, that is close to 75 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Orangeburg County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 20 Census places inside Orangeburg County, Orangeburg leads by population with about 13,253; 17 of the 20 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Orangeburg County
Renters in Orangeburg County pay a median of $841 a month, 29% below the South Carolina figure of $1,180. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. Home values center on $115,800, or 2.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 67%. Median construction year: 1983.
| Home costs | Orangeburg County | South Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $841/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $115,800 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 13% | n/a |
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?
How much Orangeburg County households make
Orangeburg County households have a median income of $45,675 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 39th of 46 in South Carolina.
| Household income | Orangeburg County | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.7% | +15.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.6% | -2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.3% | -7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -5.4 pts |
Some 40% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 22.4%, 8 points higher than the state's 14.1%. None of these numbers decides a Orangeburg County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Orangeburg County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 18% locally and 13% for South Carolina. Averaged over the five survey years, 8.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 26% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 9.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Orangeburg County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | +3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.5% | +5.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.2% | +2.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.0% | -5.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Orangeburg County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Orangeburg County next to its neighbors
Calhoun County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Sumter County, is 41 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Orangeburg County; Dorchester County is highest at $78,198 and Bamberg County lowest at $44,370.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orangeburg County | - | $45,675 | $841/mo | 67% |
| Calhoun County, SC | 17 mi | $58,682 | $1,052/mo | 85% |
| Bamberg County, SC | 22 mi | $44,370 | $815/mo | 70% |
| Dorchester County, SC | 34 mi | $78,198 | $1,463/mo | 76% |
| Clarendon County, SC | 37 mi | $52,401 | $763/mo | 73% |
| Barnwell County, SC | 38 mi | $46,626 | $740/mo | 71% |
| Sumter County, SC | 41 mi | $56,693 | $1,057/mo | 68% |
The communities that make up Orangeburg County
20 Census places fall mainly inside Orangeburg County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 29,797 residents, leaving about 64% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $46,788 at the median in Edisto, $25,489 in Wilkinson Heights. Median rent ranges from $499 in Holly Hill to $1,013 in Edisto. Live in one of these Orangeburg County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orangeburg | city | 13,253 | $38,635 | $848 | 5 mi |
| Brookdale | CDP | 4,291 | $39,449 | $678 | 6 mi |
| Wilkinson Heights | CDP | 2,012 | $25,489 | $786 | 4 mi |
| Edisto | CDP | 1,801 | $46,788 | $1,013 | 6 mi |
| Holly Hill | town | 1,218 | $34,135 | $499 | 24 mi |
| Branchville | town | 1,084 | $43,182 | $758 | 13 mi |
| Santee | town | 1,076 | $46,667 | $911 | 18 mi |
| Elloree | town | 1,035 | $33,796 | $852 | 15 mi |
| Bowman | town | 691 | $35,347 | $848 | 9 mi |
| North | town | 675 | $26,477 | $683 | 21 mi |
| Neeses | town | 524 | $37,885 | $855 | 20 mi |
| Springfield | town | 468 | $47,763 | $805 | 28 mi |
| Rowesville | town | 393 | $32,656 | $721 | 5 mi |
| Eutawville | town | 388 | n/a | $809 | 27 mi |
More Orangeburg County figures
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 9.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Orangeburg County | South Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.4% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.8% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.7% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.0% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.4% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Orangeburg County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.8% |
| 60+ min | 15.0% |
Reading the Orangeburg County data as a borrower
Where the Orangeburg County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 26% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Orangeburg County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 31% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 22% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Orangeburg County household budget, worked through
Here is the Orangeburg County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $3,806 gross per month ($45,675 / 12)
- Median rent: $841, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- $491: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $872 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Lender oversight for Orangeburg County
The South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's South Carolina license. South Carolina also has the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions for consumer credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the South Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Orangeburg County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Orangeburg County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Orangeburg County
For statewide rules and data, see the South Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Orangeburg County household make?
About $45,675 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 34% below the South Carolina median.
What do renters pay in Orangeburg County?
$841 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Orangeburg County?
By population: Orangeburg, Brookdale, Wilkinson Heights, Edisto, Holly Hill. The county has 20 Census places in all.
Can Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg 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.