Laurens, SC

Full City Profile · South Carolina · Laurens County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
9,307 Population 912/sq mi density
$55,207 Median Income $31,735 per capita
$139,800 Home Value $194,764 Zillow
$795 Median Rent 27.6% income on rent
61°F Avg Temperature
939 Violent Crime/100K 3,023 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.5 / 5.0
$55,207 median income, 2.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$139,800 home value, $795/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
939 violent crimes/100K (147% above avg)
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
15.0% bachelor's degree or higher

Laurens, SC

At a Glance

Median Income
$55,207
27% below
$31,735 per capita
Home Value
$139,800
50% below
Zillow: $194,764
Median Rent
$795/mo
32% below
27.6% of income on rent
Violent Crime
939/100K
147% above
3,023/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
15.0%
55% below
80.3% high school+
Unemployment
2.5%
31% below
17.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.1%
19% above
17.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
61°F

How Laurens Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Laurens's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
73%
Home Value
50%
Rent
68%
Poverty
137%
Bachelor's
45%
Unemployment
69%
Crime
247%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Laurens a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.9 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Laurens residents earn a median household income of $55,207 , which is 27% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $31,735. The unemployment rate stands at 2.5% (31% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 17.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,049 business establishments, including 93 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Laurens is $139,800 , 50% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $194,764. Median rent is $795/month, with 27.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 93.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1975.

Safety & Crime

Laurens reports 939 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 147% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 3,023/100K.

Education

15.0% of adults in Laurens hold a bachelor's degree or higher (55% below the national average). 80.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.5/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Laurens has an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 46.7 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population9,307
Median Age42.2 yrs
Density912/mi²
Male / Female46% / 54%
Foreign Born5.7%
Veterans6.5%

Economy

B+
Median Income$55,207
Per Capita$31,735
Unemployment2.5%
Poverty17.0%
County GDP$2,914M
Avg Weekly Wage$992

Housing

A+
Home Value$139,800
Rent$795
Ownership45.1%
Zillow$194,764
Housing Units4,263
Rent Burden27.6%

Crime

F
Violent939/100K
Property3,023/100K

Health

Obesity38.1%
Diabetes14.1%
Smoking17.0%
Heart Disease6.0%
Premature Death13,904/100K

Climate

Avg Temp61°F
Rain46.7 in/yr
Elevation593 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+15.0%
High School+80.3%
Graduate+7.6%
School Score4.5/10

Community

2024 VoteR 70% / D 29%
Commute23 min
Broadband78.5%
Internet Speed131 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries3

Did You Know?

The median home in Laurens was built in 1975.
The nearest airport is Greenville Spartanburg International (29 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.453 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
21.8% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 131 Mbps.
The county recorded 21 fatal vehicle crashes.