Laurens is a small town of 9,276 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $52,585
and a 3.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Laurens stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Laurens is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Laurens 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: 92.8
Laurens's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Laurens costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Laurens, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$129,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$741
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$52,585
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Laurens's violent crime rate is 928.4 per 100,000 residents
— 144% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
928.4 /100k
Property Crime
3001.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Laurens is served primarily by Laurens 55.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Laurens, SC
National Avg
School District
Laurens 55
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Laurens sees average highs of 53.3°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 46.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.3 inches of snow per year.
Laurens's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Laurens roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $129,200 and median rent is $741/month.
Laurens's violent crime rate is 928.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3001.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Laurens are operated by Laurens 55.
The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1. 17.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Laurens, SC has a population of 9,276, a median household income of $52,585, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%.
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.
Laurens averages 53.3°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.7 inches
with about 1.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Laurens, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29360.
The population of Laurens, South Carolina is 9,276 with a median age of 42.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Laurens: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $129,200, median household income $52,585, crime index 204 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Laurens side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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