Salem, SC Eviction Risk Score Oconee County · South Carolina · Pop. 177
Salem, SC sits at 5.2/10 — Moderate risk. 51.0% rent burden, 19.4% renters, ~39-day typical timeline.
Location & regional heat
Sub-score breakdown
Each component on a 1–10 scale. Ticks mark the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles nationally.
About eviction risk in Salem, SC
Salem, SC has an eviction risk score of 5.2 out of 10, placing it in the moderate-risk tier for landlords operating in Oconee County and the state of South Carolina. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.
Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 51.0% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Salem is $500/month. About 19.4% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.
Economic stress: poverty rate 10.4%, unemployment 0.0%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.
Political climate: In 2020, Oconee County voted Republican by 47.4 points — classified as strongly landlord-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.
What this score means for landlords
At 5.2/10, Salem is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.
Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison
| City | Distance | Population | Risk score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamassee, SC | 2.3 mi | 35 | 3.7 |
| Keowee Key, SC | 5.8 mi | 3,351 | 3.8 |
| Walhalla, SC | 9.4 mi | 4,157 | 5.6 |
| West Union, SC | 9.9 mi | 370 | 4.5 |
| Six Mile, SC | 10.7 mi | 931 | 4.5 |
| Newry, SC | 11.8 mi | 412 | 4.0 |
| Cateechee, SC | 13.9 mi | 850 | 5.5 |
| Seneca, SC | 14.3 mi | 8,993 | 6.0 |
Landlord Guides & Research Tools
Deepen your research with these guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each breakdown.
- Eviction Process — Step-by-Step Timeline & Notices
- Eviction Costs Breakdown — Filing Fees to Turnover
- Tenant Screening Protocol — NGP 5-Point System
- Rent Control Coverage — AB 1482 & Local RSOs
- California Tenant Protections — Just Cause & Retaliation
- South Carolina Eviction Risk Overview — all counties & cities in South Carolina
- Oconee County — compare every city in the county