Darlington County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Darlington County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Darlington County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Darlington County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $48,955 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,334 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.7% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.1% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Darlington County is about 29% lower than in South Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Darlington County (4.5%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Darlington County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Darlington County, South Carolina grew by 27.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $48,955 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Darlington County
| Metric | Darlington County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.569 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,068 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,985 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.6% | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Darlington County, it is 0.569, higher than South Carolina's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Darlington County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $422,905 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Darlington County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 25% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,197 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Darlington County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.8% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,883 people are unemployed in Darlington County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Darlington County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Darlington County, South Carolina has fallen from 12.7% to 6.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 17.0% in 2014 and fell as low as 6.3% in 2021.
Darlington County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Darlington County, SC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 62,559 residents against a local median of 27,862. Darlington County, SC sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 11% below the local median at 6.6% against 7.5%. Darlington County, SC has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington County, SC | 62,559 | $48,955 #3/6 | 4.5%/yr #3/6 | 6.6% #2/6 | 0.569 #5/6 |
| Lee County, SC | 16,166 | $44,784 | 4.7%/yr | 6.7% | 0.557 |
| Chesterfield County, SC | 43,782 | $49,072 | 4.1%/yr | 7.5% | 0.537 |
| Marlboro County, SC | 25,963 | $34,094 | 0.8%/yr | 9.9% | 0.602 |
| Florence County, SC | 137,115 | $58,597 | 3.9%/yr | 5.6% | 0.564 |
| Dillon County, SC | 27,862 | $46,591 | 5.3%/yr | 8.9% | 0.560 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Darlington County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than South Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Darlington County, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Darlington County, South Carolina?
Darlington County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $48,955, about 29% lower than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
Are incomes growing in Darlington County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Darlington County, South Carolina rose 27%, from $38,427 to $48,955. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Carolina as a whole: +27% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Darlington County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Darlington County, South Carolina was $47,523, up 7% from $44,304 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Darlington County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Darlington County, South Carolina was $37,033. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $48,955.
How strong is the job market in Darlington County, South Carolina?
Unemployment in Darlington County, South Carolina is 6.6%, well above the South Carolina rate of 4.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Darlington County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Darlington County is 0.569. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Darlington County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Darlington County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 25% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,197 since 2009.
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