Economic Vitality

Innovation drives success in today's global economy and is characterized and fostered by economic diversity and high quality economic growth. The Upstate is one of the fastest growing regions in the nation with more than 245 international companies and abundant investment in private and university based research. Trends in per capita income and average annual wages point to diversification and high quality growth. In the Upstate, both measures have increased in absolute terms but fall short of the state and national averages. Median household income in nine of the ten Upstate Counties falls below the state and national averages. Likewise, each of these nine counties has a higher percentage of residents living in poverty than the state and national averages. The per capita personal income of residents in the Upstate increased 33% from 1998 to 2007, falling below the 40% increase statewide and the 44% increase nationwide.