The Town FilesLamar, South Carolina
Town in Darlington County · population 862 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $127,000
- Household income
- $38,864
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 32.7
Lamar is a town of 862 people in Darlington County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $127,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for retirees than 73% of South Carolina towns.
How Lamar 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 Lamar is worth $127,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $38,864, which is more affordable than 56% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $953 a month. 77.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lamar | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $953 | $937 |
| Median household income | $38,864 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 77.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Lamar
| People | Lamar | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 35.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.7% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.6% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 19.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Lamar
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 32.8°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamar since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 25, 2010 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 1, 1960.
Severe weather in Darlington County since 1996
Darlington County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| November 21, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4677: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Darlington County
Darlington County had 20,044 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,913 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Lamar itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Lamar
3 public schools with 956 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar-Spaulding Elementary | PK-5 | 500 | 13.9 |
| Lamar High | 9-12 | 247 | 10.3 |
| Spaulding Middle | 6-8 | 209 | 10.5 |
Towns near Lamar
- Timmonsville, SC7.5 mi · 2,099 people · home $104,300
- Lydia, SC8.6 mi · 572 people · home —
- Bishopville, SC11.0 mi · 3,024 people · home $128,200
- Hartsville, SC13.6 mi · 7,446 people · home $205,600
- Darlington, SC14.5 mi · 6,149 people · home $172,300
- Mayesville, SC15.0 mi · 548 people · home $95,600
- Florence, SC15.6 mi · 39,899 people · home $211,400
- North Hartsville, SC16.1 mi · 2,775 people · home $110,600
Lamar questions
Is Lamar, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lamar scores better for retirees than 73% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 68%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Lamar?
The median owner-occupied home in Lamar is valued at $127,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,864, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $953 a month.
What is the weather like in Lamar?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 32.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Lamar get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 25, 2010. 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)