Laurens County, Georgia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Laurens County is located in Georgia with a total population of 49,619. It is the 42nd most populous county out of 159 in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Laurens County is 39.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Laurens County is $49,705. This is 33% lower than the state median of $74,664. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.4%. This is 66% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.5%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $137,400. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $272,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Laurens County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Laurens County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 56.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 37.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 4.3%.

Education

17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.1%.