Laurens County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Laurens County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 67,904. It is the 20th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Laurens County is 40.9 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Laurens County is $55,517. This is 17% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 29% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.6%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $153,500. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Laurens County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Laurens County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 65.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 23.0%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

17.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.7%.