The Town FilesJoanna, South Carolina
Community in Laurens County · population 1,517 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,100
- Household income
- $49,141
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.9
Joanna is a community of 1,517 people in Laurens County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $88,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks quieter than 97% of South Carolina towns, easier by car than 94% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 88% of South Carolina towns.
How Joanna 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 Joanna is worth $88,100, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $49,141, which is more affordable than 96% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $625 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Joanna | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $625 | $937 |
| Median household income | $49,141 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Joanna
| People | Joanna | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.5% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Joanna
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 46.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Joanna since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 30, 1960 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on November 8, 2025.
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 Joanna itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Joanna
1 public school with 300 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joanna Woodson Elementary | K-5 | 300 | 12.0 |
Towns near Joanna
- Clinton, SC5.3 mi · 7,633 people · home $173,400
- Whitmire, SC12.2 mi · 1,390 people · home $53,500
- Watts Mills, SC12.6 mi · 1,654 people · home $108,300
- Helena, SC12.9 mi · 870 people · home $157,300
- Laurens, SC14.0 mi · 9,335 people · home $180,700
- Newberry, SC14.8 mi · 10,691 people · home $142,400
- Enoree, SC19.3 mi · 687 people · home $95,500
- Prosperity, SC20.9 mi · 1,178 people · home $152,200
Joanna questions
Is Joanna, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Joanna scores better for retirees than 88% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 97%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Joanna?
The median owner-occupied home in Joanna is valued at $88,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,141, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $625 a month.
What is the weather like in Joanna?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Joanna get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Joanna since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 30, 1960. 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)