Laurens County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Laurens County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Laurens County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Laurens County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,581 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,419 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.9% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.8% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Laurens County is about 17% lower than in South Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Laurens County (4.8%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Laurens County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Laurens County, South Carolina grew by 47.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $57,581 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Laurens County
| Metric | Laurens County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,301 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,986 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.0% | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Laurens County, it is 0.535, lower than South Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 23% more than women's income in Laurens County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $361,025 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Laurens County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 26% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 11% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $418 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Laurens County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.4% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,426 people are unemployed in Laurens County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Laurens County is 22 minutes, about the same as in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Laurens County, South Carolina has fallen from 12.8% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.0% in 2012.
Laurens County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Laurens County, SC is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 68,664 residents against a local median of 38,435. Laurens County, SC sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 9% above the local median at $57,581 against $52,912. Laurens County, SC has the 3rd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurens County, SC | 68,664 | $57,581 #3/6 | 4.8%/yr #4/6 | 4.5% #4/6 | 0.535 #3/6 |
| Greenwood County, SC | 69,502 | $52,644 | 4.2%/yr | 5.5% | 0.537 |
| Union County, SC | 26,885 | $41,432 | 2.2%/yr | 7.9% | 0.528 |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 347,752 | $66,222 | 4.9%/yr | 4.3% | 0.539 |
| Newberry County, SC | 38,435 | $62,057 | 5.7%/yr | 4.4% | 0.539 |
| Abbeville County, SC | 24,414 | $52,912 | 5.5%/yr | 4.0% | 0.526 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Laurens County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than South Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Laurens County, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Laurens County, South Carolina?
Laurens County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $57,581, about 17% lower than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
Are incomes growing in Laurens County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Laurens County, South Carolina rose 48%, from $38,936 to $57,581. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Carolina as a whole: +48% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Laurens County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Laurens County, South Carolina was $56,130, up 5% from $53,395 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Laurens County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Laurens County, South Carolina was $44,382. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $57,581.
What is the Gini coefficient in Laurens County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Laurens County is 0.535. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Laurens County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Laurens County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 26% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 11% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $418 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →