The Town FilesGray Court, South Carolina
Town in Laurens County · population 763 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,900
- Household income
- $57,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 37.8
Gray Court is a town of 763 people in Laurens County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $185,900, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 71% of South Carolina towns.
How Gray Court ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gray Court is worth $185,900, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $57,500, which is more affordable than 60% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 72.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gray Court | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,900 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $910 | $937 |
| Median household income | $57,500 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 72.7% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gray Court
| People | Gray Court | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 32.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Gray Court
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 29.8°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gray Court since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on January 13, 2005 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 24, 1955.
Severe weather in Laurens County since 1996
Laurens County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Laurens County
Laurens County had 20,195 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,561 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Gray Court itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Gray Court
2 public schools with 1,376 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle | PK-8 | 755 | 12.2 |
| Hickory Tavern Elementary/Middle | PK-8 | 621 | 12.4 |
Towns near Gray Court
- Fountain Inn, SC7.9 mi · 10,416 people · home $275,300
- Laurens, SC9.0 mi · 9,335 people · home $180,700
- Enoree, SC9.4 mi · 687 people · home $95,500
- Watts Mills, SC9.7 mi · 1,654 people · home $108,300
- Woodruff, SC10.4 mi · 4,212 people · home $204,800
- Simpsonville, SC11.6 mi · 23,354 people · home $299,300
- Five Forks, SC15.2 mi · 17,737 people · home $452,200
- Mauldin, SC16.1 mi · 24,724 people · home $258,500
Gray Court questions
Is Gray Court, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gray Court scores better for retirees than 28% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 54%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Gray Court?
The median owner-occupied home in Gray Court is valued at $185,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,500, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in Gray Court?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 29.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Gray Court get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gray Court since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on January 13, 2005. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)