1st Advantage MortgageLaurens County (68,666 residents) has a $57,623 median household income and $880 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Population and place: Laurens County
- Where Laurens County works
- Laurens County at the extremes
- The $57,623 median and what sits around it
- Rent, home values and ownership in Laurens County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Census places in Laurens County
- People and households in Laurens County
- Room for a loan payment in Laurens County
- Before borrowing in Laurens County
- Verifying a lender from Laurens County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Laurens County
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Laurens County
Laurens County is home to about 68,666 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 20th most populous of 46 county-level areas in South Carolina. Its 713 square miles average 96 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Laurens County counts toward the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC include it. Laurens is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 9,336 people (14% of the county total).
Where Laurens County works
Top Laurens County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 22%; second, manufacturing, 21%. Laurens County over-indexes on manufacturing: 21% versus 13% in South Carolina. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Laurens County. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Laurens County workers | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.2% | +8.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -3.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -2.1 pts |
Self-employed in Laurens County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Laurens County at the extremes
The 3 Laurens County numbers that rank furthest from typical in South Carolina, and what each means for a borrower:
- Laurens County ranks 8th highest of 46 South Carolina counties for the uninsured rate: 12.4%, against 9.6% statewide. Hospital payment plans are usually interest-free; compare before a loan.
- Few South Carolina counties match Laurens County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 47% here, 52% for the state, ranking 9th lowest of 46. Lower rent burdens mean more renters have slack, but test your own numbers.
- Laurens County ranks 10th highest of 46 South Carolina counties for the share of mobile homes: 30.2%, against 14.2% statewide. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
The $57,623 median and what sits around it
At $57,623, the typical Laurens County household income is 12% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 22 South Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Band | Laurens County | Compared with South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.9% | +6.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +4.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.2% | -5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -5.1 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. 18.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.1%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Laurens County
Laurens County rent at the median: $880 a month, utilities in ($1,180 in South Carolina). About 5 in 10 Laurens County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. With a median value of $170,600, a typical Laurens County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. In Laurens County, 71% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. The median year built is 1985.
| Home costs | Laurens County | South Carolina | Compared with South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | -5.5 pts |
| Median home value | $170,600 | $259,000 | 34% lower |
| Median gross rent | $880/mo | $1,180/mo | 25% lower |
| Owners | 71% | 72% | -0.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 26% | -0.4 pts |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 24 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Laurens County; Greenville County is highest at $76,932 and Union County lowest at $41,621.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurens County | - | $57,623 | $880/mo | 71% |
| Greenwood County, SC | 24 mi | $52,830 | $898/mo | 67% |
| Union County, SC | 26 mi | $41,621 | $804/mo | 71% |
| Newberry County, SC | 27 mi | $61,780 | $872/mo | 73% |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 31 mi | $66,234 | $1,084/mo | 73% |
| Abbeville County, SC | 31 mi | $52,935 | $799/mo | 78% |
| Greenville County, SC | 35 mi | $76,932 | $1,262/mo | 69% |
Census places in Laurens County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Laurens County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 23,998 people, so roughly 65% of residents live outside any named place. Gray Court ($57,500) and Ware Shoals ($36,622) mark the top and bottom of Laurens County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in Joanna ($625) and steepest in Gray Court ($910). None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurens | city | 9,336 | $49,246 | $833 | 2 mi |
| Clinton | city | 7,676 | $44,522 | $899 | 8 mi |
| Ware Shoals | town | 2,074 | $36,622 | $859 | 15 mi |
| Watts Mills | CDP | 1,942 | $50,901 | $817 | 3 mi |
| Joanna | CDP | 1,306 | $49,141 | $625 | 13 mi |
| Gray Court | town | 783 | $57,500 | $910 | 11 mi |
| Cross Hill | town | 514 | $40,556 | $744 | 12 mi |
| Waterloo | town | 212 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Mountville | CDP | 136 | $70,645 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Princeton | CDP | 19 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
People and households in Laurens County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 18% of Laurens County adults. Uninsured, Laurens County: 12.4%; South Carolina: 9.6%.
| Residents | Laurens County | Difference from South Carolina | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | +0.7 yrs | -0.6 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.6% | -14.5 pts | -4.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 16.1% | +6.2 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.4% | +2.7 pts | +4.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 0.0 pts | +0.3 pts |
| Work from home | 5.4% | -6.1 pts | -3.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 18.1% | +4.1 pts | +5.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | -0.4 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Room for a loan payment in Laurens County
Laurens County's $57,623 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Monthly gross at the median, Laurens County: $4,802
- Rent at the median, $880, takes 18% of that
- $801: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,281 left for all other debt payments
A household below the $57,623 median has less room than this, often none.
Before borrowing in Laurens County
A few patterns in the Laurens County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Laurens County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Mobile homes in Laurens County. At 30% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 18% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Verifying a lender from Laurens County
Laurens County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. A second South Carolina office, the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions, covers consumer credit. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: South Carolina guide.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Laurens County:
- Price the Laurens County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in South Carolina.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Laurens County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Laurens County household make?
About $57,623 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 17% below the South Carolina median.
Can a Laurens County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $880 median rent and $4,802 median monthly income, rent alone uses 18%; add other debts before a new payment.
How many towns are in Laurens County?
The Census Bureau counts 10 places mainly in the county, led by Laurens, Clinton, Ware Shoals, Watts Mills, Joanna.
Is the fit check different in Laurens County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Laurens County check a lender's license?
With the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.