52% of South Carolina renters already spend 30 percent or more of income on rent, against a median household income of $69,324, so size any loan payment carefully. Compare written offers on total cost, confirm the lender's license and refuse any fee demanded before funding.
On this page
- South Carolina by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for South Carolina borrowers
- Largest places in South Carolina
- Other sizable places in South Carolina
- Counties with the most residents
- How South Carolina earns a living
- More context for South Carolina budgets
- Checking a lender in South Carolina
- Can South Carolina residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in South Carolina
- Frequently asked questions
South Carolina by the numbers
Sixteen budget-related measures for South Carolina, set against the national figure and ranked from highest to lowest among the 51 jurisdictions (Census Bureau ACS, 2020 to 2024).
| Budget measure | South Carolina | United States | Rank of 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,324 | $80,734 | 43rd |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 12.5% | 10th |
| Jobless rate, 5-year ACS | 4.9% | 5.2% | 27th |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $1,180 | $1,413 | 30th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 52% | 51% | 10th |
| Median home value | $259,000 | $332,700 | 33rd |
| Homes owner-occupied | 72% | 65% | 9th |
| Cost-burdened owners with a mortgage | 26% | 28% | 29th |
| Home value to income ratio | 3.7x | 4.1x | 30th |
| Workers commuting 45+ minutes | 15% | 17% | 22nd |
| Workers who work from home | 12% | 15% | 36th |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 32% | 36% | 34th |
| Age, median | 40.2 | 38.9 | 14th |
| Gini index (inequality) | 0.475 | 0.483 | 19th |
| Households earning under $35,000 | 25% | 21% | 9th |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 33% | 41% | 43rd |
What the numbers mean for South Carolina borrowers
Census figures put 25% of South Carolina households below $35,000 in yearly income and 9% above $200,000. Households at the lower end often do better with a smaller loan, or with a hardship plan from the creditor they already owe.
The median household in South Carolina earns $69,324 a year, 14% below the national median of $80,734, which ranks 43rd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Think of the median as the budget a typical offer is written for; if yours is tighter, borrow less.
12% of the South Carolina workforce works from home, while 15% face a one-way trip of 45 minutes or longer. Remote and self-employed workers should expect lenders to ask for bank statements or tax returns in place of a simple pay stub.
Owners make up 72% of South Carolina households. With a median home value of $259,000, 33rd of 51, a house costs about 3.7 years of median household income. The owner cost burden rate, for households with a mortgage, is 26%. Owners can also compare a home-equity line against a personal loan, keeping in mind that equity borrowing puts the house at risk.
Largest places in South Carolina
These 12 places hold the biggest populations in South Carolina. Income, rent and home values come from the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey.
| Community | County | Population | Median household income | Rent (median) | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | Charleston County, Berkeley County | 154,338 | $92,414 | $1,722 | $509,700 |
| Columbia | Richland County, Lexington County | 139,643 | $55,529 | $1,204 | $264,300 |
| North Charleston | Charleston County, Berkeley County | 119,913 | $62,956 | $1,430 | $302,200 |
| Mount Pleasant | Charleston County | 93,993 | $124,755 | $2,159 | $748,500 |
| Rock Hill | York County | 75,259 | $68,771 | $1,341 | $295,100 |
| Greenville | Greenville County | 72,935 | $71,472 | $1,312 | $487,500 |
| Summerville | Dorchester County, Berkeley County | 51,654 | $81,046 | $1,526 | $328,100 |
| Goose Creek | Berkeley County | 48,078 | $88,178 | $1,690 | $306,000 |
| Sumter | Sumter County | 43,053 | $55,592 | $1,076 | $199,100 |
| Greer | Greenville County, Spartanburg County | 41,536 | $82,626 | $1,198 | $288,700 |
| Florence | Florence County | 40,408 | $56,143 | $992 | $211,400 |
| Spartanburg | Spartanburg County | 38,910 | $51,964 | $1,099 | $203,700 |
South Carolina has 7 places with 50,000 or more residents and 63 with at least 10,000. Among places of 20,000 or more, median household income runs from $41,150 in Greenwood to $124,755 in Mount Pleasant. Median rent in that group ranges from $839 in Greenwood to $2,256 in Bluffton.
Other sizable places in South Carolina
Places ranked 13 to 32 by population.
| Place | Residents | Median income | Rent (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | 38,371 | $60,394 | $1,261 |
| Hilton Head Island | 37,911 | $94,657 | $1,479 |
| Bluffton | 33,157 | $111,281 | $2,256 |
| Aiken | 32,521 | $76,746 | $1,180 |
| Fort Mill | 30,775 | $121,823 | $1,503 |
| Anderson | 30,051 | $46,933 | $975 |
| Conway | 27,263 | $56,650 | $866 |
| Mauldin | 27,055 | $82,331 | $1,490 |
| Carolina Forest | 26,263 | $74,436 | $1,668 |
| Simpsonville | 26,144 | $82,457 | $1,415 |
| North Augusta | 25,653 | $86,092 | $1,169 |
| Easley | 24,841 | $66,299 | $947 |
| Lexington | 24,585 | $87,126 | $1,545 |
| Taylors | 24,505 | $77,144 | $1,337 |
| Socastee | 23,796 | $62,257 | $1,246 |
| Greenwood | 22,536 | $41,150 | $839 |
| Hanahan | 21,452 | $87,984 | $1,412 |
| Wade Hampton | 20,898 | $77,449 | $1,115 |
| St. Andrews | 19,868 | $46,511 | $1,088 |
| North Myrtle Beach | 19,855 | $72,722 | $1,263 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in St. Andrews (28%) and least in Fort Mill (15%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Of 46 counties in South Carolina, these 16 have the most people.
| County | Residents | Median household income | Median rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville County | 548,166 | $76,932 | $1,262 | $299,000 |
| Richland County | 422,117 | $63,784 | $1,228 | $242,800 |
| Charleston County | 420,264 | $88,494 | $1,620 | $489,100 |
| Horry County | 383,016 | $66,880 | $1,255 | $287,700 |
| Spartanburg County | 347,852 | $66,234 | $1,084 | $233,300 |
| Lexington County | 304,887 | $77,408 | $1,178 | $234,500 |
| York County | 293,673 | $89,095 | $1,387 | $361,300 |
| Berkeley County | 246,802 | $84,358 | $1,654 | $310,300 |
| Anderson County | 210,478 | $66,651 | $989 | $231,900 |
| Beaufort County | 195,289 | $86,573 | $1,653 | $455,600 |
| Aiken County | 174,160 | $70,609 | $1,062 | $218,000 |
| Dorchester County | 167,201 | $78,198 | $1,463 | $329,300 |
| Florence County | 137,117 | $58,305 | $954 | $177,900 |
| Pickens County | 134,629 | $61,064 | $972 | $231,900 |
| Sumter County | 104,725 | $56,693 | $1,057 | $165,300 |
| Lancaster County | 104,475 | $78,869 | $959 | $329,900 |
Median income by county stretches from $32,328 (Allendale County) up to $89,095 (York County). That spread is a reminder to size a payment to your own budget, not to a state average.
How South Carolina earns a living
The jobs mix in South Carolina: the four largest industries by share of employed residents 16 and older.
| Industry | Share of South Carolina workers | U.S. share | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 22% | 24% | -1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13% | 10% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 12% | 13% | -1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11% | 11% | +0.4 pts |
The industry where South Carolina stands out most from the U.S. is manufacturing: 13% of employed residents, versus 10% for the nation. Hourly workers with variable schedules should average several months of pay when sizing a payment.
More context for South Carolina budgets
Over 2020 to 2024, 4.9% of the South Carolina labor force was unemployed on average in the ACS, against 5.2% nationally; the poverty rate was 14.1%. These are averages over five years, not this month's job market; a lender cares about your own work history.
South Carolina renters pay a median $1,180 a month. 52% of them spend 30 percent or more of income on rent, above the national share of 51%. A moving or deposit loan is common among renters; compare it with a payment plan from the landlord or utility first.
The median South Carolina resident is 40.2. Four-year degrees: 32% of adults. Income inequality (Gini): 0.475, 19th of 51.
Checking a lender in South Carolina
Personal lenders that make loans to South Carolina residents generally need a state license or must lend through a bank. The state banking agency, listed by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, is the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. South Carolina also has a separate consumer-credit regulator, the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions.
- Ask for the lender's license number and look it up on NMLS Consumer Access.
- An upfront fee to "secure" a loan is a warning sign the FTC describes here.
- Complaints can go to the state agency and to the CFPB.
Can South Carolina residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. Matching is open in South Carolina today. Answer six short steps, see the requirements up front, and compare any written offers you receive.
Local guides in South Carolina
Prefer the view from your own city? 8 South Carolina places have a full guide:
Frequently asked questions
Which agency licenses lenders in South Carolina?
The state banking agency listed for South Carolina by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors is the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. Consumer lending is also overseen by the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions. NMLS Consumer Access lists many lenders' licenses, and the CFPB accepts complaints from every state.
What is the median household income in South Carolina?
About $69,324. Half of South Carolina households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
Is rent high in South Carolina?
The typical renter pays $1,180; the U.S. median is $1,413. In South Carolina, 52% of renting households spend 30 percent or more of income on housing.
How many South Carolina residents live below the poverty line?
14.1% in the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, compared with 12.5% nationally. Households under strain should look at free options, such as hardship plans and nonprofit counseling, before a loan.