1st Advantage MortgageIn Spartanburg County, South Carolina, the typical household earns $66,234 a year and the typical rent is $1,084. 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
- Spartanburg County, SC: the basics
- Income in Spartanburg County compared with South Carolina
- Renting and owning in Spartanburg County
- Jobs and commutes in Spartanburg County
- The counties around Spartanburg County
- Places inside Spartanburg County
- Room for a loan payment in Spartanburg County
- More Spartanburg County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Spartanburg County
- Lender oversight for Spartanburg County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Spartanburg County, SC: the basics
Roughly 347,852 residents live in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, 5th by population among the state's 46 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 808 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 430 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Spartanburg, SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 37 places in the county (12 incorporated, 25 census-designated); the largest is Spartanburg, with about 38,910 residents, or 11% of the county.
Income in Spartanburg County compared with South Carolina
At $66,234, the typical Spartanburg County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 15th of 46.
| Household income | Spartanburg County | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.4% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.7% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -2.3 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.5%, the same as the state's 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 Spartanburg County median.
Renting and owning in Spartanburg County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,084 in Spartanburg County versus $1,180 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $233,300, about 3.5 times the median household income. 73% of Spartanburg County households own their home and 27% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1990.
| Spartanburg County | South Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,084/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $233,300 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | n/a |
Because most Spartanburg 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.
Jobs and commutes in Spartanburg County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Spartanburg County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Only 4.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Spartanburg County | Gap to South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.1% | +7.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.2% | -2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | -0.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Spartanburg County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Spartanburg County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Spartanburg County's, from 22 to 33 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Spartanburg County; Greenville County is highest at $76,932 and Union County lowest at $41,621. Some neighbors are in North Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Spartanburg County resident follows South Carolina rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg County | - | $66,234 | $1,084/mo | 73% |
| Greenville County, SC | 22 mi | $76,932 | $1,262/mo | 69% |
| Cherokee County, SC | 23 mi | $50,288 | $869/mo | 74% |
| Polk County, NC | 26 mi | $67,758 | $1,178/mo | 77% |
| Union County, SC | 27 mi | $41,621 | $804/mo | 71% |
| Laurens County, SC | 31 mi | $57,623 | $880/mo | 71% |
| Rutherford County, NC | 33 mi | $51,410 | $783/mo | 74% |
Places inside Spartanburg County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 37 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 37% of Spartanburg County residents live in one of the 37. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $32,292 in Saxon to $120,700 in Reidville. Rent is cheapest in Landrum ($486) and steepest in Drayton ($1,438). Live in one of these Spartanburg County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg | city | 38,910 | $51,964 | $1,099 | 4 mi |
| Boiling Springs | CDP | 12,936 | $72,068 | $1,266 | 8 mi |
| Valley Falls | CDP | 8,239 | $55,661 | $1,021 | 5 mi |
| Lyman | town | 6,547 | $75,653 | $1,081 | 8 mi |
| Woodruff | city | 4,538 | $70,959 | $810 | 13 mi |
| Duncan | town | 4,310 | $52,500 | $1,032 | 9 mi |
| Saxon | CDP | 4,085 | $32,292 | $934 | 2 mi |
| Southern Shops | CDP | 3,797 | $37,754 | $1,058 | 3 mi |
| Whitney | CDP | 3,685 | $51,275 | $1,051 | 5 mi |
| Wellford | city | 3,515 | $57,338 | $1,261 | 6 mi |
| Arcadia | CDP | 3,426 | $55,218 | $1,266 | 2 mi |
| Inman | city | 3,166 | $63,599 | $1,323 | 10 mi |
| Hilltop | CDP | 2,950 | $37,444 | $1,160 | 4 mi |
| Roebuck | CDP | 2,902 | $51,204 | $870 | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Spartanburg County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Spartanburg County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,520 gross per month ($66,234 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,084, which is 20% of it
- $903: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Spartanburg County's.
More Spartanburg County figures
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.7%, against 9.6% for South Carolina.
| Measure | Spartanburg County | South Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.1% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.6% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Spartanburg County
What the Spartanburg County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Spartanburg County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Mobile home upkeep. 12% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Rent squeeze. 50% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Lender oversight for Spartanburg County
Spartanburg County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by 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. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: South Carolina guide.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Spartanburg County:
- Price the Spartanburg County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A South Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
The South Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spartanburg County a high-income county?
Its $66,234 median ranks 15th of 46 South Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Spartanburg County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,084 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Spartanburg County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Spartanburg County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Spartanburg, Boiling Springs, Valley Falls, Lyman, Woodruff and 32 more.
Will a Spartanburg 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.