City · South Carolina
Laurens, South Carolina
Laurens, city, in Laurens County, South Carolina. Laurens had 9,327 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,335 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,336 (±27). GEOID 4540615.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,327
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,335 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,336 ±27
Median household income
$49,246
±$13,089 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$180,700
±$35,710 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$833
±$57 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is Laurens and what county is it in?
Laurens is a city in Laurens County, South Carolina. It covers 10.2 square miles of land, 914 residents per square mile in 2020.
Laurens is in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Laurens, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,327 people lived in Laurens on July 1, 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, while South Carolina grew 8.8%. The 2020 Census counted 9,335 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,336 (±27).
| Measure | Laurens | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,336 ±27 | 68,666 | +469 |
| Households | 3,925 ±323 | 26,959 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.28 ±0.19 | 2.46 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,276 ±360 | 32,027 | no clear change |
Laurens's population since 2000
From 9,916 in 2000 to 9,327 in 2025: down 5.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Laurens as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Laurens?
The median resident of Laurens is 42.1 years old; 23.7% are under 18 and 25.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 50.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 37.6%. 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Laurens | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 ±3.6 | 40.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.7% ±3.8 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.2% ±3.9 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Male | 47.6% ±3.8 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.8% ±4.2 pts | 6.7% | +5.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 50.7% ±5.0 pts | 65.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 37.6% ±5.3 pts | 22.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±1.9 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.9% ±3.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.4% ±3.4 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3% ±2.4 pts | 6.4% | – |
| With a disability | 21.5% ±3.6 pts | 17.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.6% ±3.0 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.1% ±4.7 pts | 83.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.9% ±3.3 pts | 17.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.8% ±2.0 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.1% ±6.9 pts | 88.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.8% ±2.1 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Laurens earn?
Half of Laurens's 3,925 households earn less than $49,246 a year (±$13,089), against $57,623 in Laurens County and $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $50,136 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Laurens | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,246 ±$13,089 | $57,623 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $64,851 ±$7,562 | $71,325 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,457 ±$3,593 | $28,695 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 25.4% ±7.4 pts | 18.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 42.4% ±16.9 pts | 27.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 26.2% ±5.7 pts | 17.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 86.3% ±6.7 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.2% ±5.7 pts | 86.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Laurens?
Owners occupy 46.4% of Laurens's occupied homes and renters 53.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $180,700 by its owner (±$35,710). The median renter pays $833 a month including utilities, and 47.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Laurens | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $180,700 ±$35,710 | $170,600 | +$65,384 |
| Median gross rent | $833 ±$57 | $880 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.1% ±12.7 pts | 40.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,097 ±$102 | $1,178 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 46.4% ±8.0 pts | 71.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 53.6% ±8.0 pts | 28.5% | – |
| Housing units | 4,276 ±360 | 32,027 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.8% ±4.9 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.0% ±5.6 pts | 61.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% ±2.1 pts | 30.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.8% ±2.6 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.4% ±3.6 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.0% ±3.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 13.9% ±5.8 pts | 5.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Laurens building?
Builders took permits for 13 new housing units in Laurens in 2025 (13 in single-family houses), 1.4 per 1,000 residents against 8.2 across South Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Laurens work and get to work?
77.9% of Laurens's workers drive alone and 5.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.9 minutes.
| Measure | Laurens | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.8% ±6.0 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.9% ±1.8 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 77.9% ±7.3 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.3% ±7.0 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.3% ±3.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.9 min ±2.9 | 25.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Laurens?
1 census tract lies mostly in Laurens, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9204Laurens County | 5,166 | $58,971 |
| Tract 9203.02Laurens County | 4,518 | $38,160 |
| Tract 9205.03Laurens County | 3,153 | $50,174 |
| Tract 9203.01Laurens County | 3,764 | $54,063 |
| Tract 9205.04Laurens County | 2,960 | $51,471 |
| Tract 9205.01Laurens County | 1,792 | $71,833 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Laurens) · Census block assignment files
How does Laurens compare with other places in South Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Laurens is the 3,369th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 46th-most populous of 271 in South Carolina.
Laurens ranks 157th of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 46th | 271 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 114th | 149 |
| Residents per square mile | 140th | 261 |
| Median household income | 157th | 248 |
| Per capita income | 142nd | 259 |
| Median home value | 142nd | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 169th | 235 |
| Poverty rate | 74th | 214 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 192nd | 226 |
| Median age | 78th | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 227th | 258 |
| Work from home | 109th | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 202nd | 261 |
Laurens's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, sortable · Compare Laurens with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Laurens?
13 of the 57 figures for Laurens on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Laurens are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Laurens.