Department of Numbers

Laurens County South Carolina Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Laurens County SC was $701 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Laurens County was $645 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Laurens County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Laurens County rental vacancy rates, Laurens County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Laurens County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Laurens County South Carolina (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
South Carolina Median Gross Rent $922 +1.54% +4.65%
Laurens County SC Median Gross Rent $701 -0.14% -18.49%

Laurens County SC Real Gross Rent Trends

Median gross rent for Laurens County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $860 and is now $159 (18.49%) lower. Average gross rent for Laurens County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $763 and is now $118 (15.47%) lower.

Real Gross Rent: Laurens County SC Median, Laurens County SC Average, South Carolina Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Laurens County

Date US
Median
South Carolina
Median
Laurens County SC
Median
Laurens County SC
Average
2019 $1,097 $922 $701 $645
2018 $1,077 $908 $702 $678
2017 $1,043 $874 $779 $639
2016 $1,027 $881 $860 $763
2015 $1,017 $869 $676 $627
2014 $986 $835 $662 $646
2013 $953 $807 $647 $577
2012 $940 $802 $746 $600
2011 $941 $800 $675 $566
2010 $955 $813 $693 $621
2009 $960 $805 $715 $593

more history ...

Laurens County Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2017 the rental vacancy rate for Laurens County South Carolina was 9.46% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Laurens County South Carolina

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
South Carolina 9.13% -0.86% +0.64%
Laurens County SC

Trends in Laurens County SC Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Laurens County peaked in 2005 at 10.85%. Since then it has fallen by 1.39% to 9.46%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2014 post peak low of 3.78%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 5.68%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Laurens County SC, South Carolina, US

Rental vacancy rate in South Carolina

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Laurens County

Date US South Carolina Laurens County SC
2019 5.97% 9.13%
2018 6.15% 9.99%
2017 6.18% 8.97% 9.46%
2016 5.89% 8.49%
2015 5.85% 9.45%
2014 6.32% 10.54% 3.78%
2013 6.49% 10.54% 6.65%
2012 6.77% 12.68% 7.01%
2011 7.40% 12.12% 9.18%
2010 8.17% 13.69%
2009 8.43% 13.35% 6.76%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Laurens County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Laurens County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.82% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Laurens County South Carolina Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
South Carolina 19.68% -0.79% -0.71%
Laurens County SC 17.82% -2.16% -4.56%

Trends in Laurens County SC Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Laurens County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 24.10%. Since then it has fallen by 6.28% to 17.82%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Laurens County SC, South Carolina, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Laurens County South Carolina

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Laurens County South Carolina

Date US South Carolina Laurens County SC
2019 20.03% 19.68% 17.82%
2018 20.50% 20.46% 19.97%
2017 20.13% 20.12% 22.47%
2016 20.43% 20.39% 22.37%
2015 20.63% 20.81% 19.36%
2014 20.89% 20.98% 19.99%
2013 20.78% 20.81% 20.81%
2012 20.65% 20.99% 24.10%
2011 20.70% 20.99% 21.32%
2010 20.50% 20.79% 20.52%
2009 20.12% 19.96% 20.14%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Laurens County South Carolina

You can calculate the renter fraction in Laurens County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Laurens County as a fraction of total Laurens County households. In 2019 31.52% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Laurens County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
South Carolina 29.73% -1.00% -1.64%
Laurens County SC 31.52% -0.92% -1.24%

Trends in the Laurens County SC Renter Fraction

The Laurens County household renter fraction peaked in in 2006 at 32.86% and is now 1.34% below that level. From a recent low of 25.24% in 2017, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 6.28%. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Laurens County SC, South Carolina, US

Fraction of renters in Laurens County

History of Laurens County Renter Fraction

Date US South Carolina Laurens County SC
2019 35.89% 29.73% 31.52%
2018 36.05% 30.73% 32.44%
2017 36.13% 31.25% 25.24%
2016 36.88% 31.37% 32.76%
2015 36.97% 31.87% 29.71%
2014 36.90% 31.95% 29.47%
2013 36.50% 31.83% 28.36%
2012 36.09% 31.87% 32.32%
2011 35.42% 30.83% 29.56%
2010 34.65% 31.30% 27.55%
2009 34.13% 29.86% 27.30%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.