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CITY

Laurel Bay

South Carolina · 5,882 residents · 4.16 sq mi
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The short version

Laurel Bay is home to 5,882 people in South Carolina. This skews young, with a median age of 23.0. Owners hold 22% of the housing stock. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 19% of adults. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. People stay put here: 79% were in the same home a year ago.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 23.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 83%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

5,882
−11%since 2000
from 6,625 in 2000
1990 – 2024
1,413 / sq mi
+12%since 2009
from 1,265 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
23.0
−1%since 2000
from 23.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
4.16 sq mi
Population, 19902024
5K5K6K6K7K19902000201020202024Laurel Bay
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 513.7%(803)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.9%(464)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1412.7%(749)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.5%(325)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2419.3%(1,136)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3419.2%(1,129)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.1%(538)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 543.4%(200)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 644.5%(267)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 742.6%(152)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842%(119)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0%(0)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$54,345
−27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,777 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$22,523
+78%since 2000
from $12,686 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.1%
+15.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
17.5%
+12.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.412
+48%since 2010
from 0.279 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$231,800
+83%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$1,454
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $693 in 2000
US average: $1,442
22.5%
−12.6 ptssince 2000
from 35.1% in 2000
77.5% rent
7.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
3.02 people
−1%since 2009
from 3.04 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
24.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
59.8%
+12.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
4.3
+52%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
40
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic62.9%(4,165)
Black25.4%(1,680)
Hispanic / Latino7.9%(523)
Asian1.4%(96)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic45.2%(2,658)
Black38.4%(2,259)
Hispanic / Latino13.8%(814)
Asian0.3%(18)
Other2.3%(133)
79
+23%since 2009
from 64 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.7%(337)
Puerto Rican4.6%(272)
Honduran2.3%(136)
Chilean0.3%(18)
Cuban0.2%(10)
Colombian0.2%(9)
Asian origin
Chinese0.2%(10)
Filipino0.1%(8)
Ancestry
American9.9%(580)
German6.6%(390)
Irish4.4%(258)
English1.2%(72)
Brazilian1.2%(70)
Polish1.2%(68)
Italian1.1%(67)
Norwegian0.3%(18)
Scottish0.3%(16)
French0.2%(12)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.2%(11)
Welsh0.2%(9)
Austrian0.1%(8)
Ukrainian0.1%(8)
Dutch0.1%(7)
Czech0%(1)
Section 05

Education

19.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 15.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 92.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
3.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

28.0 min
+124%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
88.8%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
8.4%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
1.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
0.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
4.6%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

4.5%
−7.6 ptssince 2011
from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
67.2%
−10.6 ptssince 2011
from 77.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
61.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 63.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
2.1%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
21.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

49.6%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
50.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
1.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
11.3%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
14.9%
+7.4 ptssince 2012
from 7.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
4.0%
−10.1 ptssince 2013
from 14.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
92.6%
+12.0 ptssince 2017
from 80.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.6%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 97.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
79.1%
+6.1 ptssince 2020
from 73.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
94.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 95.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
4.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 3.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25%(459)
Married67.1%(1,234)
Widowed0%(0)
Divorced7.9%(146)
Women 15+
Never married20.6%(417)
Married70.8%(1,436)
Widowed4.4%(90)
Divorced4.1%(84)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

4.0%
−10.1 ptssince 2013
from 14.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
32.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 32.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
18.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 18.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
8.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2020
from 6.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
28.4%
+5.9 ptssince 2020
from 22.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.8%
−3.0 ptssince 2020
from 4.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
77.9%
−4.6 ptssince 2020
from 82.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
36.5%
+5.7 ptssince 2020
from 30.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)63.9%(204)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)16.6%(53)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era10%(32)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 319 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Laurel Bay, South Carolina?

Laurel Bay, South Carolina has about 5,882 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Laurel Bay, South Carolina?

The typical household in Laurel Bay, South Carolina earns about $54,345 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Laurel Bay, South Carolina expensive?

In Laurel Bay, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $231,800, and the typical rent is about $1,454 a month.

How educated are people in Laurel Bay, South Carolina?

About 19.3% of adults age 25 and over in Laurel Bay, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Laurel Bay, South Carolina?

About 17.5% of people in Laurel Bay, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Laurel Bay, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Laurel Bay, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 910 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Laurel Bay, South Carolina: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy