1st Advantage MortgageIn Pickens County, South Carolina, the typical household earns $61,064 a year and the typical rent is $972. 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
- A quick profile of Pickens County
- Household income in Pickens County
- What it costs to live in Pickens County
- Employment and commuting in Pickens County
- Towns and communities in Pickens County
- Regional comparison for Pickens County
- A Pickens County household budget, worked through
- Pickens County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Pickens County
- Four steps for Pickens County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in South Carolina
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Pickens County
With an estimated 134,629 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Pickens County ranks 14th of 46 in South Carolina for population. It covers 497 square miles of land, or about 271 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (6 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Easley, with about 24,841 residents, or 18% of the county.
Household income in Pickens County
Half of Pickens County households take in less than $61,064 a year and half take in more, 12% below the South Carolina median of $69,324.
| Household income | Pickens County | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.2% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.7% | -2.2 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 17.2% of Pickens County residents in poverty, against 14.1% across South Carolina. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.493 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Pickens County median.
What it costs to live in Pickens County
A typical Pickens County rental runs $972 a month including utilities, which is 18% below South Carolina. 56% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 34% spend half or more. With a median value of $231,900, a typical Pickens County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 71% of Pickens County households own their home and 29% rent. Median construction year: 1989.
| Pickens County | South Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $972/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $231,900 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | 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?
Employment and commuting in Pickens County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Education and health care stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 22% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Pickens County. About 79% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.4% of the total (5.7% statewide).
| Sector | Pickens County | Compared with South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.2% | -2.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | +0.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Towns and communities in Pickens County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Pickens County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 48,363 people, so roughly 64% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $42,206 in Liberty to $96,250 in Six Mile. Median rent ranges from $687 in Liberty to $1,003 in Arial. Live in one of these Pickens County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easley | city | 24,841 | $66,299 | $947 | 9 mi |
| Clemson University | CDP | 7,015 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Central | town | 5,320 | $60,258 | $876 | 12 mi |
| Liberty | city | 3,350 | $42,206 | $687 | 7 mi |
| Pickens | city | 3,155 | $55,000 | $828 | 1 mi |
| Arial | CDP | 1,919 | $54,286 | $1,003 | 5 mi |
| Six Mile | town | 931 | $96,250 | $800 | 7 mi |
| Cateechee | CDP | 850 | n/a | $909 | 9 mi |
| Norris | town | 784 | $50,750 | $913 | 8 mi |
| Dacusville | CDP | 198 | $51,000 | n/a | 10 mi |
Regional comparison for Pickens County
Greenville County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Jackson County, is 36 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Pickens County; Greenville County is highest at $76,932 and Jackson County lowest at $55,815. Some neighbors are in North Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Pickens County resident follows South Carolina rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens County | - | $61,064 | $972/mo | 71% |
| Greenville County, SC | 20 mi | $76,932 | $1,262/mo | 69% |
| Oconee County, SC | 21 mi | $62,388 | $881/mo | 76% |
| Transylvania County, NC | 23 mi | $66,184 | $967/mo | 75% |
| Anderson County, SC | 26 mi | $66,651 | $989/mo | 75% |
| Henderson County, NC | 34 mi | $68,187 | $1,187/mo | 75% |
| Jackson County, NC | 36 mi | $55,815 | $904/mo | 61% |
A Pickens County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Pickens County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,089 gross per month ($61,064 / 12)
- Less median rent of $972, which is 19% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $809 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,318 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Pickens County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 29% of the adult population. 8.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Pickens County | South Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.5% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.2% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Pickens County
Based on the Pickens County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Renters under pressure. When 56% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Four steps for Pickens County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for South Carolina borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in South Carolina
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Pickens County borrowers answers to 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
Is Pickens County a high-income county?
Its $61,064 median ranks 20th of 46 South Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Pickens County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $972 a month; 56% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Pickens County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Pickens County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Pickens County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Easley, Clemson University, Central, Liberty, Pickens.
Will a Pickens County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming South Carolina as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.