1st Advantage MortgageOwners are 70% of Bamberg County households and renters pay a median of $815. For a Bamberg County borrower, the safe sequence is the same: price the need, compare APR and fees on several written offers, confirm the South Carolina license, and pick the shortest term whose payment fits.
On this page
- Local snapshot
- What Bamberg County residents do for work
- Bamberg County households and housing
- Running the numbers for Bamberg County
- What this means for a Bamberg County loan
- How Bamberg County compares
- Getting to know Bamberg County
- Do this before signing in Bamberg County
- Bamberg County communities by size
- Bamberg County housing stock
- Bamberg County income ladder
- Neighbors of Bamberg County: people and schooling
- Where Bamberg County ranks in South Carolina
- Frequently asked questions
Local snapshot
All figures here are ACS 2020 to 2024 five-year estimates for Bamberg County. They are estimates with margins of error, and they say nothing about any one household.
What Bamberg County residents do for work
Employment among Bamberg County residents centers on manufacturing (27%), with education and health care (23%) and construction (11%) next. The sector where Bamberg County stands furthest from the typical place in our set is manufacturing (27% here, 14% at the median).
At the top of the scale, 1% of Bamberg County households earn $200,000 or more; at the bottom, 40% earn under $35,000. Against our Carolina county medians, Bamberg County runs -8 points on $100,000+ households and +11 on households under $35,000. A Gini reading of 0.48 sums up how unevenly income is spread in Bamberg County. Your lender will look at your own income, so the figure that counts is the one on your pay records.
Bamberg County households and housing
Residents of Bamberg County have a median age of 42.3; 18% of adults 25 and older have at least a bachelor's degree, and 22% did not finish high school. Relative to our Carolina county medians: +0.0 years on age, -6 points on degrees. A younger population often means more renters and more movers, both common reasons to borrow.
Of every 100 homes in Bamberg County, about 65 are detached houses and 3 sit in larger apartment buildings. That is -3 points against the Carolina county median on detached houses and -1 on large buildings. A detached-house market tends to generate repair borrowing, an apartment-heavy one moving and deposit costs.
Running the numbers for Bamberg County
Divide the median income of $44,370 by twelve and a Bamberg County household has about $3,698 a month before taxes. Rent at the median ($815) uses 22% of that; 30% would be $1,109. About $1,331 a month is what 36% of median gross income comes to here, a rough ceiling many lenders use for all debts combined. Buying the median home would take about 2.2 years of median income.
What this means for a Bamberg County loan
The Census Bureau's estimate for unemployment among Bamberg County's labor force is 15.0%, higher than in most of the 146 Carolina county places we cover. Lenders look hard at income stability, so documented, steady income matters.
The price-to-income ratio in Bamberg County is on the lower side (about 2.2, from a median home value of $97,800 and a median household income of $44,370). That can give owners more flexibility, including paying a personal loan off early.
Housing in Bamberg County is on the older side (median build year 1978). Older homes mean roofs, plumbing, electrical and HVAC work come due, and home improvement loans are common.
How Bamberg County compares
Among the 146 Carolina county places we track, Bamberg County posts a median household income of $44,370 (rank 138 of 146), a median gross rent of $815 (rank 100 of 146), and a median home value of $97,800 (rank 141 of 146). These ranks describe a place, not a household.
Two reference points among South Carolina places of similar population: Calhoun County ($58,682 income, $1,052 rent), where Bamberg County runs 24% below on income and 23% below on rent and Lee County ($44,760 income, $823 rent), where Bamberg County runs 1% below on income and 1% below on rent. Differences like these are why a loan that suits one town can strain another.
Getting to know Bamberg County
Largest communities in Bamberg County, by 2020 to 2024 population: Denmark, Bamberg, Ehrhardt, Olar (5 Census places in all). County-wide figures here include Denmark and every smaller community around it.
Do this before signing in Bamberg County
- License check for Bamberg County borrowers: South Carolina's Commissioner of Consumer Finance supervises consumer lenders.
- Run the offer checklist before you sign.
- Put the payment through the DTI calculator before you apply anywhere. Lenders set their own limits.
- Ask a credit union or nonprofit counselor first. A hardship plan may cost nothing (free options).
- Read your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and fix errors before you shop.
Bamberg County communities by size
5 incorporated municipalities and 0 census-designated places lie mainly in Bamberg County. Home values differ sharply: $157,900 in Bamberg against $63,900 in Denmark.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Portion of county | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | incorporated city | 3,117 | 23.9% | $63,900 |
| Bamberg | incorporated town | 2,996 | 23.0% | $157,900 |
| Ehrhardt | incorporated town | 389 | 3.0% | $112,500 |
| Olar | incorporated town | 139 | 1.1% | $90,000 |
| Govan | incorporated town | 45 | 0.3% | n/a |
Bamberg County housing stock
The housing stock in Bamberg County is 65% detached houses; apartments in buildings of 5+ units account for 3%, and mobile homes for 22%. With 22% manufactured and 1% attached units, Bamberg County owners should ask early which loan types fit their home.
| Kind of building | Share in Bamberg County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached | 65.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Townhouse or attached | 1.0% | -2.7 pts |
| 2 to 4 units | 7.9% | +3.4 pts |
| 5 to 19 units | 2.8% | -4.6 pts |
| 20 or more units | 0.5% | -5.1 pts |
| Mobile home | 22.4% | +8.2 pts |
Bamberg County income ladder
Eight income steps for Bamberg County: the largest group, 23% of households, is in the Under $15,000 band. 14.9% of Bamberg County households sit at $35,000 to $49,999 and 12.5% at $100,000 to $149,999; the same loan payment means very different things at each.
| Income band | County share | Compared with state |
|---|---|---|
| Under $15,000 | 22.6% | +13.0 pts |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 10.2% | +2.8 pts |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 7.5% | -0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 14.9% | +2.9 pts |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 17.1% | +0.1 pts |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 9.5% | -3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 12.5% | -4.0 pts |
| $150,000 or more | 5.8% | -11.0 pts |
Neighbors of Bamberg County: people and schooling
Orangeburg County is nearest at 22 miles. Across the group, the median age peaks at 44.7 in Allendale County.
| Nearby Carolina county | Miles | Residents | Age (median) | College grads | Below poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamberg County | - | 13,042 | 42.3 | 18% | 24% |
| Orangeburg County, SC | 22 mi | 83,253 | 40.7 | 19% | 22% |
| Barnwell County, SC | 22 mi | 20,521 | 40.4 | 14% | 25% |
| Allendale County, SC | 24 mi | 7,661 | 44.7 | 14% | 28% |
| Hampton County, SC | 30 mi | 18,254 | 40.9 | 12% | 21% |
| Colleton County, SC | 34 mi | 38,783 | 42.0 | 17% | 20% |
Where Bamberg County ranks in South Carolina
- Bamberg County: 15.0% for unemployment, #1 of 46 in South Carolina. Gather income records before applying.
- Bamberg County: 29% for vacant housing, #1 of 46 in South Carolina. Seasonal and second homes are common.
- On car-free households (12.9%), Bamberg County ranks #3 of 46 statewide, against 5.8% for the middle Carolina county. Transit and ride costs belong in the budget.
- Home values puts Bamberg County at #5 lowest of 46 among South Carolina counties ($97,800). Little equity to tap; unsecured loans are the norm.
| Where it stands out | Value | South Carolina rank | Carolina median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 15.0% | #1 of 46 | 4.9% |
| Vacant housing | 29% | #1 of 46 | 14% |
| Car-free households | 12.9% | #3 of 46 | 5.8% |
| Home values | $97,800 | #5 lowest of 46 | $213,900 |
Frequently asked questions
Can renters in Bamberg County get a personal loan without owning a home?
Yes. Most personal loans are unsecured, so you do not need a house. Lenders look at income, credit history and debt payments. Renters cannot borrow against equity, which makes comparing APR and total cost even more important.
Will my Bamberg County address affect my match?
No. We never score neighborhoods. Bamberg County residents are screened on the same four answers as everyone else.
Who licenses lenders that serve Bamberg County?
The Commissioner of Consumer Finance licenses and supervises consumer lenders and takes complaints about them; the Department of Consumer Affairs covers general business complaints. Verify the license before you share details.
Can a Bamberg County borrower get money the same week?
Often, once identity and income are verified. Lenders serving Bamberg County set their own funding times, so ask before you accept.