Census-designated place · South Carolina
Watts Mills, South Carolina
Watts Mills, census-designated place, in Laurens County, South Carolina. Watts Mills had 1,654 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,942 (±883). GEOID 4575220.
Residents, 2020 Census
1,654
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 1,942 ±883
Median household income
$50,901
±$6,177 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$108,300
±$42,958 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$817
±$227 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is Watts Mills and what county is it in?
Watts Mills is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Laurens County, South Carolina. It covers 2.3 square miles of land, 729 residents per square mile in 2020.
Watts Mills 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 Watts Mills, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,654 residents in Watts Mills, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 1,942 (±883).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Watts Mills is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Watts Mills | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,942 ±883 | 68,666 | no clear change |
| Households | 573 ±221 | 26,959 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.39 ±0.99 | 2.46 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 692 ±230 | 32,027 | no clear change |
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 Watts Mills?
The median resident of Watts Mills is 30.5 years old. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 43.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 38.5%. 30.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Watts Mills | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.5 ±6.7 | 40.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.3% ±7.5 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 4.6% ±4.7 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Male | 52.6% ±12.2 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 38.5% ±20.6 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 43.8% ±21.7 pts | 65.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 16.1% ±12.5 pts | 22.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±2.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 30.5% ±17.2 pts | 3.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 23.1% ±12.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.3% ±3.2 pts | 6.4% | – |
| With a disability | 6.4% ±3.7 pts | 17.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 50.5% ±11.1 pts | 12.4% | +22.0 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 49.1% ±13.7 pts | 83.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 2.8% ±3.6 pts | 17.6% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.3% ±8.6 pts | 88.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±2.3 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 Watts Mills earn?
Half of Watts Mills's 573 households earn less than $50,901 a year (±$6,177), against $57,623 in Laurens County and $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $29,649 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $21,252 after inflation.
| Measure | Watts Mills | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,901 ±$6,177 | $57,623 | +$21,252 |
| Mean household income | $48,244 ±$10,235 | $71,325 | – |
| Per capita income | $16,780 ±$3,349 | $28,695 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.7% ±8.5 pts | 18.1% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.1% ±12.5 pts | 27.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 41.9% ±16.5 pts | 17.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.0% ±4.7 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.5% ±15.9 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 Watts Mills?
Owners occupy 42.1% of Watts Mills's occupied homes and renters 57.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $108,300 by its owner (±$42,958). The median renter pays $817 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Watts Mills | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $108,300 ±$42,958 | $170,600 | – |
| Median gross rent | $817 ±$227 | $880 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.5% ±27.1 pts | 40.9% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,163 ±$508 | $1,178 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 42.1% ±20.9 pts | 71.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 57.9% ±20.9 pts | 28.5% | – |
| Housing units | 692 ±230 | 32,027 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±17.0 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 16.4% ±18.4 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.8% ±14.8 pts | 61.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 23.4% ±14.8 pts | 30.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±6.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.8% ±5.9 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.9% ±13.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 16.9% ±15.4 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 do people in Watts Mills work and get to work?
66.1% of Watts Mills's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 26.7 minutes.
| Measure | Watts Mills | Laurens County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.1% ±13.8 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 10.9% ±10.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 66.1% ±23.4 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 31.2% ±24.3 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±5.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±1.9 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 1.9% ±6.1 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.7 min ±3.0 | 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 Watts Mills?
1 census tract lies mostly in Watts Mills, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9205.03Laurens County | 3,153 | $50,174 |
| Tract 9205.04Laurens County | 2,960 | $51,471 |
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 Watts Mills) · Census block assignment files
How does Watts Mills compare with other places in South Carolina?
Watts Mills ranks 148th of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 202nd | 261 |
| Residents per square mile | 176th | 261 |
| Median household income | 148th | 248 |
| Per capita income | 251st | 259 |
| Median home value | 214th | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 178th | 235 |
| Median age | 236th | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 243rd | 258 |
| Travel time to work | 91st | 261 |
Watts Mills's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, sortable · Compare Watts Mills 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 Watts Mills?
25 of the 57 figures for Watts Mills 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 Watts Mills 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' school search.