1st Advantage MortgageSaluda County households have a median income of $51,009 and median rent of $851 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Saluda County at a glance
- What Saluda County households earn
- Renting and owning in Saluda County
- How Saluda County residents earn a living
- How Saluda County compares with nearby counties
- Saluda County towns compared
- A Saluda County household budget, worked through
- Saluda County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Saluda County borrowers
- South Carolina rules that apply in Saluda County
- Steps before you apply in Saluda County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Saluda County at a glance
Saluda County is home to about 19,131 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 40th most populous of 46 county-level areas in South Carolina. Spread over 453 square miles, that works out to roughly 42.2 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Columbia, SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Batesburg-Leesville, with about 4,941 residents, or 26% of the county.
What Saluda County households earn
Saluda County households have a median income of $51,009 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 31st of 46 in South Carolina.
| Band | Saluda County | Compared with South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.4% | +8.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -4.9 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. 18.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.1%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Saluda County median.
Renting and owning in Saluda County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $851 in Saluda County versus $1,180 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $146,500, about 2.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 79%. Median construction year: 1987.
| Measure | Saluda County | South Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $851/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $146,500 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 13% | n/a |
Because most Saluda 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.
How Saluda County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Saluda County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 17% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Saluda County averages 3.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Saluda County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.9% | -5.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -3.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Saluda County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Saluda County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 20 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Saluda County; Lexington County is highest at $77,408 and Greenwood County lowest at $52,830.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saluda County | - | $51,009 | $851/mo | 79% |
| Edgefield County, SC | 20 mi | $73,029 | $720/mo | 80% |
| Newberry County, SC | 21 mi | $61,780 | $872/mo | 73% |
| Greenwood County, SC | 25 mi | $52,830 | $898/mo | 67% |
| Lexington County, SC | 27 mi | $77,408 | $1,178/mo | 77% |
| Aiken County, SC | 32 mi | $70,609 | $1,062/mo | 77% |
| McCormick County, SC | 35 mi | $55,798 | $696/mo | 88% |
Saluda County towns compared
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 49% of Saluda County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $39,167 in Ridge Spring to $49,646 in Batesburg-Leesville. Rent is cheapest in Ridge Spring ($640) and steepest in Batesburg-Leesville ($958). None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batesburg-Leesville | town | 4,941 | $49,646 | $958 | 13 mi |
| Saluda | town | 3,055 | $42,506 | $816 | 3 mi |
| Ridge Spring | town | 842 | $39,167 | $640 | 12 mi |
| Monetta | town | 282 | $59,554 | $1,032 | 13 mi |
| Ward | town | 260 | n/a | $922 | 10 mi |
A Saluda County household budget, worked through
Saluda County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,251 before taxes
- 20% goes to median rent ($851)
- Under a 43% cap, $1,828 total minus rent leaves $977
Two-income households and single earners in Saluda County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Saluda County households compared
20% of Saluda County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 18% go without health insurance.
| Saluda County | South Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.4% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.9% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.9% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Saluda County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.5% |
| 60+ min | 11.6% |
What the numbers mean for Saluda County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Saluda County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 18% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 28% of Saluda County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Saluda County loan.
South Carolina rules that apply in Saluda County
Consumer lenders serving Saluda County are licensed by the state, not the county; in South Carolina that is 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. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: South Carolina guide.
Steps before you apply in Saluda County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in South Carolina.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
The South Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Saluda County earn?
The median is $51,009; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Saluda County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $851 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Saluda County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Saluda 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 Saluda County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Batesburg-Leesville, Saluda, Ridge Spring, Monetta, Ward.
Are Saluda County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.