CountyScore

Marlboro County

South Carolina · SC

#23 in South Carolina
68.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Marlboro County, South Carolina

Marlboro exceeds national livability benchmark

Marlboro County's composite score of 68.4 sits 37% above the national median of 50.0, marking it as a solid-performing county nationally. This strength is driven primarily by exceptional affordability and low tax burden.

Marginally above South Carolina average

Marlboro ranks just slightly above the state average composite score of 68.2, placing it in the middle band of South Carolina's 46 counties. Performance is consistent with statewide norms across most dimensions.

Marlboro shines in cost and taxes

Marlboro boasts exceptional housing affordability (89.8 score) with a median home value of just $74,500 and median rent of $686/month—among the lowest in the state. A tax score of 84.3 reflects a reasonable effective rate of 0.638%, keeping overall cost of living minimal.

Low income and economic risk require attention

At $36,293, Marlboro's median household income ranks among the lowest statewide, and a risk score of 42.5 suggests moderate economic vulnerability. Health outcomes (53.2 score) also lag behind higher-performing counties.

Ideal for budget-first seekers with stable work

Marlboro County suits remote workers, retirees with fixed income, and others seeking rock-bottom housing costs without worrying about local employment. If your income is secure from outside the county, Marlboro's ultra-low cost of living offers exceptional value.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax84.3Cost89.8SafetyComing SoonHealth53.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome7.1Risk42.5WaterComing Soon
🏛84.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠89.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼7.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤53.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡42.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Marlboro County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Morgan County
Alabama
68.4
Median income: $64,858
Mesa County
Colorado
68.4
Median income: $71,485
Levy County
Florida
68.4
Median income: $53,805
Atkinson County
Georgia
68.4
Median income: $38,438
Irwin County
Georgia
68.4
Median income: $53,915

Deep Dives

Marlboro County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Marlboro County

via TaxByCounty

Marlboro taxes modest by national standards

Marlboro County's effective rate of 0.638% places it in the bottom 20% nationally, well below the typical American property tax burden. At a median of $475 annually, Marlboro homeowners pay less than one-fifth of the national median tax of $2,690.

Middle-of-pack across South Carolina

Marlboro County ranks 19th among South Carolina's 46 counties with an effective rate of 0.638%, slightly above the state average of 0.542%. The median tax bill of $475 is roughly half the state average of $939, reflecting lower home values in the county.

Higher rate than Marion, lower than McCormick

Marlboro's 0.638% effective rate sits between Marion County's 0.457% and the more tax-heavy counties like McCormick and Newberry. Compared to nearby Marion, Marlboro homeowners pay about $78 more annually on similarly valued properties.

Median home costs $475 yearly

On Marlboro County's median home value of $74,500, annual property taxes total $475—among the lowest in the state. Those with mortgages pay approximately $697 annually when escrow is included.

Assessment appeals pay off here

Many Marlboro County homeowners never challenge their property assessments, leaving money on the table. Filing an appeal with the county assessor costs nothing and could reduce your tax bill if your home's assessed value exceeds market value.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Marlboro County

via CostByCounty

Marlboro's rent burden vs. nation

Marlboro County residents spend 22.7% of household income on rent, nearly matching Marion County's squeeze and surpassing South Carolina's 20.1% average. With median income at $36,293—just under half the national median—Marlboro renters face above-average affordability stress despite modest rent prices.

Marlboro's affordability standing

At 22.7% rent-to-income, Marlboro ranks among South Carolina's least affordable counties, second only to Marion at 23.1%. The county's $686 median rent falls well short of the state average of $945, but income constraints are the limiting factor.

Marlboro in the Pee Dee cluster

Marlboro's $686 rent sits between Marion's $663 and McCormick's $666, but household income of $36,293 is the second-lowest in this cluster after Marion. Renters here face similar income-affordability pressures as Marion while paying slightly more for housing.

Costs across renting and owning

Marlboro renters pay $686/month while homeowners spend $424/month on a median home valued at $74,500—among the state's lowest. Despite owning being cheaper, the barrier is saving for a down payment on $36,293 annual income.

Marlboro: affordable but tight

Marlboro offers some of South Carolina's cheapest housing, but wage growth is the real opportunity gap here—median income trails most peer counties by $20,000+. Job seekers should look for employers offering above-county-average compensation.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Marlboro County

via IncomeByCounty

Marlboro income gap widens vs. nation

Marlboro County's median household income of $36,293 falls 51% short of the national median of $74,755, reflecting persistent economic challenges in this rural region. Families here earn roughly $38,000 less annually than U.S. households, constraining access to education, healthcare, and asset-building opportunities.

Marlboro ranks lowest in South Carolina

Marlboro County holds the lowest median household income among all 46 South Carolina counties at $36,293, nearly $21,000 below the state average of $57,006. This distinction underscores the county's economic distress and its need for targeted workforce and business development strategies.

Marlboro slightly edges Marion in earnings

Marlboro's $36,293 median income edges Marion County ($34,501) but trails Orangeburg County ($43,214), reflecting similar rural economic patterns across southeastern South Carolina. All three counties cluster well below state and national benchmarks, suggesting regional structural challenges.

Rent still strains household finances here

Marlboro's rent-to-income ratio of 22.7% sits above the recommended 20% threshold, consuming nearly a quarter of median income for renting families. A median home value of $74,500 offers affordable homeownership, yet the low median income makes down payments and mortgage qualification challenging for many.

Marlboro residents: invest in skills and assets

With median income at $36,293, Marlboro workers benefit most from investing in career development and vocational training that raises earning potential. Automating even $25 monthly into a savings account builds emergency reserves and demonstrates creditworthiness for future mortgage and business lending.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Marlboro County

via HealthByCounty

Marlboro's health crisis runs deep

Marlboro County residents live just 69.1 years on average, nearly 7 years shorter than the U.S. median of 76.1 years. Nearly 28% report poor or fair health—the highest rate in this eight-county cohort and well above the national 18% average. This combination marks Marlboro as facing South Carolina's most acute health challenges.

Lowest life expectancy in South Carolina

Marlboro County ranks dead last statewide on life expectancy at 69.1 years, trailing the state average by 3.4 years. Its 28.1% poor/fair health rate is also among South Carolina's worst, reflecting decades of economic and healthcare disinvestment. The county's health crisis demands urgent, sustained attention and resources.

Severely isolated from care

Marlboro's 11 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest in this region—leaves residents traveling far for basic doctor visits. By contrast, neighboring McCormick County has 51 providers per 100K and achieves 4.2 years longer life expectancy. Marlboro does have strong mental health capacity at 327 per 100K, but geography and transportation barriers limit real-world access.

One in eight Marlboro residents uninsured

Marlboro's 11.7% uninsured rate is just slightly below the state average, but when paired with critically low primary care capacity, it means many residents lack both coverage and nearby clinicians. Uninsured and underinsured residents often skip preventive care, driving up emergency room use and poor health outcomes. The shortage of primary care doctors compounds the burden on already-fragile health.

Coverage is your health foundation

Marlboro residents should explore Medicaid eligibility and healthcare.gov plans immediately—coverage access is more critical here than in most counties. Free or low-cost community health center visits are available even for uninsured residents; ask local clinics about sliding-scale options. Taking action on insurance today can improve your access to the primary care Marlboro desperately needs.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Marlboro County

via RiskByCounty

Marlboro has relatively low national disaster risk

Marlboro County scores 57.47 on the composite risk scale, well below the national average and below South Carolina's state average of 70.75. This relatively low standing reflects the county's generally modest exposure to most natural hazards, though hurricane risk remains a regional concern.

Marlboro ranks in the safer half of SC

Marlboro County ranks in the lower half of South Carolina's 46 counties for overall disaster risk, placing it among the safer communities in the state. Only a handful of counties, like McCormick, face significantly lower composite risk.

Marlboro is safer than Marion but closer to McCormick

With a composite score of 57.47, Marlboro sits between its high-risk neighbor Marion County (80.69) and the very safe McCormick County (9.54). Marlboro's 88.24 hurricane risk is notably lower than Marion's 94.79, reflecting differences in coastal exposure and geographic positioning.

Wildfires and tornadoes are top concerns

Marlboro faces equal wildfire and tornado risks, both scoring 73.66, making these the county's most significant hazards. Hurricane risk (88.24) rounds out the top three, though it remains below Marion County's extreme exposure.

Focus on wind and fire protection

Marlboro residents should prioritize homeowner's insurance that covers wind damage, given the county's 88.24 hurricane risk and 73.66 tornado exposure. Wildfire protection and defensible space around homes are equally important due to the 73.66 wildfire risk score.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.