Population 4,455 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Lamar
Household size in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.74 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.64 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.22 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Lamar run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. South Carolina as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.74, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.7 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.3 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
At 38.7, the median age in Lamar is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in South Carolina overall, where the median age is 41.2.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.5% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Lamar: 18.5% of all households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lamar
Renters in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.0% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.1% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.2% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.7% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lamar is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About six in ten owners (60.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Lamar: 14.1% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Lamar is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are older than in South Carolina as a whole, where the median home dates to 1991.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $593 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $618 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $650 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $908 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$315 | +$514 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lamar costs $908 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 26.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lamar
Bachelor's degrees in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.3% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lamar: 18.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.4% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.5% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 77.8% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +16.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lamar is close to the national rate: 89.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lamar
| Period | Lamar | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lamar runs well above the national rate: 8.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lamar compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar | 2.52 | 38.7 | 18.5% | 23.7% | 14.1% | 1984 | $908 | 18.4% | 89.1% | 8.2% |
| Oats | 2.33 | 45.8 | 13.0% | 22.1% | 6.8% | 1991 | $851 | 13.4% | 85.9% | 6.5% |
| Mechanicsville | 2.16 | 38.8 | 15.7% | 30.8% | 14.4% | 1986 | $834 | 16.1% | 83.5% | 2.7% |
| Syracuse | 2.36 | 44.8 | 13.4% | 22.1% | 10.9% | 1988 | $739 | 21.2% | 88.3% | 7.2% |
| Lydia | 2.31 | 53.2 | 14.5% | 6.0% | 31.1% | 1985 | $823 | 5.6% | 85.8% | 9.3% |
| Elliott | 2.12 | 50.5 | 12.7% | 29.2% | 24.7% | 1984 | $803 | 18.3% | 87.7% | 1.9% |
| South Lynchburg | 2.27 | 51.6 | 14.1% | 24.3% | 24.4% | 1977 | $836 | 8.6% | 85.5% | 2.8% |
| Timmonsville | 2.47 | 43.9 | 8.1% | 33.5% | 19.2% | 1985 | $989 | 16.9% | 88.4% | 5.5% |
| Bishopville | 2.42 | 43.6 | 14.8% | 34.7% | 15.9% | 1983 | $864 | 13.9% | 79.7% | 7.7% |
| McCutchens Crossroads | 2.41 | 43.7 | 14.4% | 11.6% | 11.8% | 1991 | $939 | 16.7% | 68.5% | 4.3% |
| Lynchburg | 2.40 | 50.3 | 12.9% | 20.4% | 23.5% | 1981 | $792 | 13.1% | 86.4% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Dillwyn, VA · Philadelphia, TN · Denmark, WI · Dennison, OH · Petersburg, WV · Desert Edge, CA · Desloge, MO · Petersburg, MI · Dewey, OK · DeWitt, AR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lamar. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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