City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Lamar, SC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lamar - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,446
Residents
$44,000
Median income
$112,700
Median home
$902
Median rent (state)

Lamar - the verdict

Lamar ranks in the 12th percentile for household income and the 7th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

12th
percentile, household income
14th
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
7th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lamar, SC

Lamar is a small town in South Carolina, home to 1,446 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $44,000 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 30.3%. Lamar's housing stock carries a median value of $112,700, and the median resident age is 29.7 years. 28.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 55.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 6 residential building permits were authorized in Lamar (Building Boom), up 50% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Lamar's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 4052.4 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, South Carolina scores 93.7 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $902 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Carolina run around $224, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 36.0 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,446 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$44,000 /yr

Poverty 30.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Lamar compare to other US cities?

Here's how Lamar stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 12% higher than other cities
Home value 14% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities
Safety 7% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at South Carolina, Lamar ranks #82 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Lamar's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in South Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

12thIncome percentile
7thSafety percentile

12th percentile nationally for median household income · 7th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lamar's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lamar's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 37 Avg. percentile National median
Lamar's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Lamar's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$112,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 86% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lamar $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lamar, SC Lamar, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lamar, SC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lamar, SC median $44,000/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lamar, SC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lamar, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 30.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,446
Median Income
$44,000
Median Home Value
$112,700
Median Age
29.7
Poverty Rate
30.3%
Labor force participation
55.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4052.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
4052.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
840 residents850 residents860 residents870 residents 202020212022202320242025 856 residents 862 residents ▲ +0.7%
Lamar's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
6
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 5
2021 0
2022 1
2023 8
2024 6

Permit volume increased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.7%
Carpool
8.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
14.9%
Other
1.3%

Based on 569 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lamar sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$902/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
36.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

St. Stephen
1,460 people
Winnsboro Mills
1,426 people
Holly Hill
1,415 people
Wedgefield
1,480 people
Chapin
1,410 people
Cane Savannah
1,497 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lamar's 1,446 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fowler, MI
1,446 people
Wolcott, NY
1,446 people
Arlington, OH
1,446 people
Woodland Heights, PA
1,446 people
Mendon, UT
1,446 people
Bellemont, AZ
1,447 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lamar's $44,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fox, AR
$44,000 median income
Ty Ty, GA
$44,000 median income
Church Point, LA
$44,000 median income
Henning, MN
$44,000 median income
Holiday, FL
$43,996 median income
Lime Lake, NY
$43,994 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lamar, SC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lamar, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 52.9% 47.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.6% White 52.9% Black or African American 47.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lamar compares to nearby South Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lamar (this city) 1,446 $44,000
St. Stephen 1,460 $59,688
Winnsboro Mills 1,426 $34,426
Holly Hill 1,415 $34,792
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lamar, SC?

What is the population of Lamar, SC? +

Lamar, SC counts 1,446 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lamar, SC? +

Lamar households earn a median of $44,000 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lamar? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lamar; the closest available measure is the South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Lamar, SC safe? +

Lamar has a total crime rate of 4052.4 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Lamar, SC? +

Lamar's median home value sits at $112,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.