Lamar is a small town of 1,217 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $40,489
and a 1.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lamar stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Lamar is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lamar city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 88.0
Lamar's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lamar costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lamar, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$117,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$740
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,489
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Lamar's violent crime rate is 905.2 per 100,000 residents
— 138% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
905.2 /100k
Property Crime
3425.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lamar is served primarily by Darlington 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lamar, SC
National Avg
School District
Darlington 01
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lamar sees average highs of 56.8°F in January
and 90.6°F in July,
with 46.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Lamar's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lamar roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $117,600 and median rent is $740/month.
Lamar's violent crime rate is 905.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3425.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lamar are operated by Darlington 01.
The district has 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 27.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lamar, SC has a population of 1,217, a median household income of $40,489, and an unemployment rate of 1.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Lamar averages 56.8°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.7 inches
with about 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lamar, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29069.
The population of Lamar, South Carolina is 1,217 with a median age of 35.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lamar: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $117,600, median household income $40,489, crime index 208 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lamar side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.