Joanna, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Joanna is a small community located in South Carolina, within Laurens County. The total population is 1,306. It ranks as the 243rd most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Joanna is 42.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 11.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Joanna is $49,141. This is 29% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 46% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. 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 1.4%. This is 72% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $88,100. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $259,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Joanna is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Joanna has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.5%. The Black or African American population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 24.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

4.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 85% lower than the state rate of 32.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Joanna, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.