Ware Shoals, South Carolina

Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Ware Shoals, compared with South Carolina and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.

Ware Shoals town · Incorporated town · Census GEOID 4574680 · South Carolina directory

Population · July 1, 2025
1,733 PEP Vintage 2025
Change · 2024 to 2025
+0.3% +6 residents
Household income
$36,622 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$6,687
Home value
$82,000 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$24,363
Monthly gross rent
$859 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$220
Median age
33.8 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±13.0
Ware Shoals, South Carolina location in the United States Ware Shoals, South Carolina
Census 2024 simplified state outlines; 2025 Gazetteer internal points. Alaska and Hawaii use separate insets. Approximate locator; city boundaries are not shown. Map sources.

Ware Shoals is an incorporated town in Greenwood County and Laurens County, South Carolina. With 1,733 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 127th in South Carolina and 8,219th nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 6 (0.3%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 1.8%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $859 a month, 27.2% below the South Carolina median. Median household income is $36,622, 47.2% below the South Carolina median.

What stands out in Ware Shoals?

Compared with other South Carolina places, Ware Shoals is most distinctive for fewer college graduates, fewer households with broadband and lower home values. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.

  • Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.3%, 23.8 percentage points below the South Carolina rate (32.1%); lower than 99% of 168 South Carolina places with reliable estimates. Only 0 of 168 South Carolina places with reliable estimates are lower.
  • Households with a broadband subscription: 57.7%, 31.1 percentage points below the South Carolina rate (88.8%); lower than 98% of 252 South Carolina places with reliable estimates. Only 4 of 252 South Carolina places with reliable estimates are lower.
  • Median home value: $82,000, 68.3% below the South Carolina median ($259,000); lower than 92% of 226 South Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Median real estate taxes paid: $560, 55.2% below the South Carolina median ($1,251); lower than 84% of 220 South Carolina places with reliable estimates.
  • Median household income: $36,622, 47.2% below the South Carolina median ($69,324); lower than 84% of 212 South Carolina places with reliable estimates.

How Ware Shoals compares with South Carolina and the U.S.

City, state and U.S. figures · ACS 2020–2024, LODES 8.4 and PEP Vintage 2025 · position among South Carolina places with reliable estimates
Measure Ware Shoals South Carolina U.S. Position in South Carolina
Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 +1.8% — — lower than 53% of 257 South Carolina places
Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 529 — — lower than 53% of 271 South Carolina places
Median household income B19013 $36,622 ±$6,687 $69,324 $80,734 lower than 84% of 212 South Carolina places
Median home value B25077 $82,000 ±$24,363 $259,000 $332,700 lower than 92% of 226 South Carolina places
Median real estate taxes paid B25103 $560 ±$83 $1,251 $3,119 lower than 84% of 220 South Carolina places
Median gross rent B25064 $859 ±$220 $1,180 $1,413 lower than 54% of 200 South Carolina places
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 57.2% ±36.3 pp · low precision 52.1% 51.1% Not ranked: low precision
Homeownership rate B25003 68.5% ±16.3 pp 71.9% 65.2% higher than 50% of 252 South Carolina places
Median age B01002 33.8 years ±13.0 40.2 years 38.9 years lower than 86% of 252 South Carolina places
Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 8.3% ±2.8 pp 32.1% 35.7% lower than 99% of 168 South Carolina places
Poverty rate B17001 38.2% ±20.5 pp · low precision 14.1% 12.5% Not ranked: low precision
People without health insurance B27010 12.2% ±6.3 pp · low precision 9.6% 8.4% Not ranked: low precision
Households with a broadband subscription B28002 57.7% ±22.1 pp 88.8% 91.0% lower than 98% of 252 South Carolina places
Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 2.4% ±2.5 pp · low precision 4.9% 5.2% Not ranked: low precision
Foreign-born residents B05002 0.8% ±0.8 pp · low precision 5.8% 14.1% Not ranked: low precision
Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP 24.5 — — lower than 74% of 175 South Carolina places
Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 +11.1% — — higher than 74% of 154 South Carolina places
Workers who work from home B08301 1.7% ±1.5 pp · low precision 11.5% 15.1% Not ranked: low precision
Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 20.3% ±16.5 pp · low precision 14.7% 16.5% Not ranked: low precision
Households without a vehicle B08201 17.9% ±14.7 pp · low precision 5.7% 8.4% Not ranked: low precision

Positions compare Ware Shoals with South Carolina places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 8 measures are shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.

How many people live in Ware Shoals?

The latest official estimate is 1,733 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 8,219th by population nationally and 127th in South Carolina among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 6 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.

Ware Shoals population estimates, 2020 through 2025, Census Vintage 2025. Vertical range 1,614 to 1,785; axis does not start at zero. Residents · axis does not start at zero 1,785 1,614 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Annual July 1 estimates, all from Vintage 2025. Revised April 1, 2020 estimate base: 1,702; the base is separate from July 2020.
Population history · PEP Vintage 2025
Reference date Population Change from previous estimate
July 1, 2020 1,703 Separate from April 2020 base
July 1, 2021 1,699 -4
July 1, 2022 1,704 +5
July 1, 2023 1,713 +9
July 1, 2024 1,727 +14
July 1, 2025 1,733 +6

From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +31 residents (1.8%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.

Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release

Where are the boundaries?

Entity and stable identifier
Ware Shoals town, South Carolina · Incorporated town · 4574680
Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
Greenwood County ; Laurens County
Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
Greenwood, SC — Micropolitan Statistical Area ; Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC — Metropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
Land area
3.3 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Water area
0.1 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Approximate population density
529 residents per square mile of land
Internal point
34.387806°, -82.24327° · Census geographic reference point

Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .

Income and poverty

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median household income Households · USD/year $36,622 ±$6,687 $69,324 ±$570 $80,734 ±$166
Per-capita income Total population · USD/year $19,488 ±$3,828 $39,236 ±$299 $44,673 ±$122
Population with poverty status determined · B17001 · ACS 2020–2024 People with poverty status determined: 2,074
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Below the poverty level 792 ±480 · low precision 38.2% ±20.5 pp · low precision

Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 38.2% (±20.5 percentage points · low precision) under the official Census definition.

Home values, rent and tenure

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD $82,000 ±$24,363 $259,000 ±$1,421 $332,700 ±$236
Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month $859 ±$220 $1,180 ±$9 $1,413 ±$2
Occupied housing units by tenure · B25003 · ACS 2020–2024 Occupied housing units: 815
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Owner occupied 558 ±209 68.5% ±16.3 pp
Renter occupied 257 ±136 · low precision 31.5% ±14.0 pp

Owner-occupied units make up 68.5% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 2.2 times the median household income.

See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .

Monthly rent by bedroom count

Median monthly gross rent by bedrooms · ACS 2020–2024 · 2024 dollars
Bedrooms Monthly gross rent 90% margin of error Precision
No bedroom (studio) Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
1 bedroom Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
2 bedrooms $641 ±$188 Estimate with MOE
3 bedrooms $1,110 ±$38 Estimate with MOE
4 bedrooms $850 ±$62 Estimate with MOE
5 or more bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .

Employment among residents

Labor-force participation · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Population age 16 and older: 1,470
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
In the labor force 748 ±179 50.9% ±3.3 pp
Not in the labor force 722 ±223 49.1% ±10.1 pp
Civilian labor-force status · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian labor force: 748
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Civilian employed 730 ±178 97.6% ±4.6 pp
Civilian unemployed 18 ±19 · low precision 2.4% ±2.5 pp · low precision

These estimates describe residents of Ware Shoals wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Ware Shoals. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.

Which industries employ residents?

Manufacturing is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 22.5% (164 people; ±6.5 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.

Industry of employed residents · C24030 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 730
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining 3 ±15 · low precision 0.4% ±2.0 pp · low precision
Construction 28 ±27 · low precision 3.8% ±3.5 pp · low precision
Manufacturing 164 ±62 22.5% ±6.5 pp
Wholesale trade 11 ±13 · low precision 1.5% ±1.7 pp · low precision
Retail trade 35 ±23 · low precision 4.8% ±3.0 pp · low precision
Transportation, warehousing and utilities 62 ±46 · low precision 8.5% ±6.0 pp · low precision
Information 3 ±16 · low precision 0.4% ±2.1 pp · low precision
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 22 ±28 · low precision 3.0% ±3.8 pp · low precision
Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services 105 ±118 · low precision 14.4% ±15.8 pp · low precision
Education, health care and social assistance 163 ±71 22.3% ±8.0 pp
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 24 ±24 · low precision 3.3% ±3.1 pp · low precision
Other services, except public administration 78 ±74 · low precision 10.7% ±9.8 pp · low precision
Public administration 32 ±30 · low precision 4.4% ±3.9 pp · low precision

Occupations among employed residents

Broad occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 730
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management, business, science and arts 124 ±51 17.0% ±5.6 pp
Service occupations 124 ±61 17.0% ±7.3 pp
Sales and office 135 ±55 18.5% ±6.0 pp
Natural resources, construction and maintenance 176 ±131 · low precision 24.1% ±16.9 pp · low precision
Production, transportation and material moving 171 ±63 23.4% ±6.4 pp
Selected detailed occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 730
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management occupations 42 ±32 · low precision 5.8% ±4.2 pp · low precision
Computer and mathematical occupations 4 ±15 · low precision 0.5% ±2.1 pp · low precision
Educational instruction and library occupations 46 ±38 · low precision 6.3% ±5.0 pp · low precision
Health practitioners and technical occupations 20 ±15 · low precision 2.7% ±2.0 pp · low precision
Sales and related occupations 33 ±22 · low precision 4.5% ±2.9 pp · low precision
Transportation occupations 40 ±35 · low precision 5.5% ±4.5 pp · low precision

The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.

How residents get to work

Means of transportation to work · B08301 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16 and older: 722
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Drove alone 657 ±170 91.0% ±7.1 pp
Carpooled 47 ±35 · low precision 6.5% ±4.6 pp · low precision
Public transportation 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision
Taxi or ride-hailing 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision
Motorcycle 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision
Bicycle 6 ±7 · low precision 0.8% ±0.9 pp · low precision
Walked 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision
Other means 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision
Worked from home 12 ±11 · low precision 1.7% ±1.5 pp · low precision
Travel time to work · B08303 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16+ who did not work from home: 710
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Under 15 minutes 169 ±68 23.8% ±7.5 pp
15–29 minutes 279 ±120 39.3% ±13.7 pp
30–44 minutes 118 ±55 16.6% ±6.5 pp
45–59 minutes 105 ±120 · low precision 14.8% ±16.5 pp · low precision
60 minutes or longer 39 ±24 · low precision 5.5% ±3.1 pp · low precision
Household vehicle availability · B08201 · ACS 2020–2024 Households: 815
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
No vehicle available 146 ±127 · low precision 17.9% ±14.7 pp · low precision

Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.

Households and residents

Median age is 33.8 years (±13.0). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with South Carolina and the U.S.

Read Ware Shoals demographics →

How many jobs are located in Ware Shoals?

Employers in Ware Shoals reported 419 jobs in 2023, +11.1% compared with 2019 (377 jobs). That is 24.5 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate, so most employed residents are likely to work elsewhere. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.

Jobs located in Ware Shoals by industry (NAICS sector) · 2023 · LODES 8.4
Industry Jobs Share of local jobs South Carolina share
Educational services 97 23.2% 8.1%
Accommodation and food services 84 20.0% 10.7%
Manufacturing 71 16.9% 12.0%
Retail trade 59 14.1% 11.9%
Public administration 34 8.1% 4.5%
Health care and social assistance 28 6.7% 13.6%
Construction 21 5.0% 5.1%
Professional, scientific and technical services 16 3.8% 5.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 6 1.4% 1.6%
Wholesale trade 3 0.7% 3.8%
Monthly earnings and worker age · jobs located in Ware Shoals · 2023
Group Jobs Share South Carolina share
$1,250 a month or less 157 37.5% 19.5%
$1,251 to $3,333 a month 133 31.7% 28.9%
More than $3,333 a month 129 30.8% 51.6%
Age 29 or younger 109 26.0% 22.7%
Age 30 to 54 208 49.6% 52.7%
Age 55 or older 102 24.3% 24.6%

Educational services is the largest sector for jobs located in Ware Shoals (23.2% of local jobs, compared with 8.1% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.

Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.

Nearby station climate normals

LAURENS, SC (NOAA station USC00385017) is approximately 23.8 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.

LAURENS monthly average daily high and low temperature, 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Solid line: high; dashed line: low. Vertical scale 30 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature (°F) 100 30 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Average daily high: solid line. Average daily low: dashed line. NOAA station normals, 1991–2020; the table gives all monthly values.
LAURENS · 1991–2020 monthly normals
Month Average daily high (°F) Average daily low (°F) Precipitation (inches)
January 53.3 30.3 4.18
February 57.2 32.9 3.95
March 64.8 39.4 4.67
April 73.8 47.4 3.57
May 81.0 57.5 3.42
June 87.8 66.0 4.24
July 90.9 69.6 3.58
August 89.1 68.4 4.11
September 83.8 62.0 3.60
October 74.2 49.2 3.34
November 63.6 38.2 3.59
December 55.9 33.0 4.46

Station location: 34.4989°, -82.0219°; elevation 179.5 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .

Check a specific address before moving

City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.

  • FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
  • NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
  • FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
  • Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.

Sources and data notes

Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.

Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.

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