RANK #520 / 996 · POP 63,025 · SC
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.7%
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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| 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 has a Boom Town Index score of 48/100, ranking #520 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -1.5% and a median household income of $44,317, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Darlington County is $132,600 with median rent at $804/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3342, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: -1.5%. Home values changed +2.1% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.74% of Darlington County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.