RANK #72 / 996 NAT · #1 / 24 SC · POP 63,025
1YR FORECAST: +3.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +37%
Known for the Darlington Raceway, which hosts the annual NASCAR Southern 500, Darlington County is located in the Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina. The county seat, Darlington, is roughly 75 miles from Columbia, a drive that takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Hartsville is the largest community in the county and is home to Coker University and Kalmia Gardens, a 56-acre botanical garden with a boardwalk along Black Creek. The county offers various parks and recreation facilities, including Williamson Park with its nature trails and boardwalk, and Byerly Park in Hartsville, which features sports venues and walking trails.
Life in Darlington County offers a small-town atmosphere with access to larger city amenities. The Darlington County School District is recognized for its academic programs, including Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture, has diversified. Major investment is occurring in sectors such as energy and manufacturing, with companies like Sonoco Products and Nucor Steel having a presence in the county. The Darlington County Economic Development Partnership actively works to attract and expand businesses, contributing to job growth in the area.
Contracting economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.1x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Southern Current Solar Farm Portfolio (6 projects)
Southern Current
|
$141M | Operating |
|
Universal Industrial Gases (UIG) Facility
Universal Industrial Gases, LLC (a subsidiary of Nucor Corporation)
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Robinson Solar Center (76 MW)
Duke Energy Progress
|
$76M | Planned |
|
Culpepper Solar
Undisclosed
|
$75M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Darlington County ranks #72 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 93/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 1.5% year-over-year). Median household income here is $44,317.
Housing in Darlington County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $132,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $804/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Both population (-0.6% YoY) and employment (-1.5%) are contracting in Darlington County, though housing tells its own story with values moving +2.1% over the past 12 months. This is a county where the trend lines are pointing in the wrong direction.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.74% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Darlington County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.