Compare towns
Waterloo vs Lowndesville
35 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (4.6× in Lowndesville) and jobs per worker (2.2× in Waterloo).
Where each one shines Two towns, two different strengths What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.
Lowndesville A small town of 206
Quiet strengths Lowndesville doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Lowndesville →
The biggest differences Where they differ most The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.
★ What stands out · Report cards Grades and rankings, side by side Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every South Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.
Life in each What daily life feels like in each The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.
Seasons
Waterloo Lowndesville
Growing season (days) — 226d
Outdoors & history
Waterloo Lowndesville
Famous people born here — 2
Community
Waterloo Lowndesville
A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.
Where they are 35 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Waterloo ↔ Lowndesville 35 miles apart
Everything, side by side What matters to you? Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Waterloo Lowndesville
People
Population
212 Highest
206 Lowest
Median age
49 ±24.2 Lowest
22% above SC
52 ±12.9 Highest
29% above SC
Lowndesville and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.5% ±23.2 Highest
SC: 21.4%
19.9% ±8.2 Lowest
SC: 21.4%
Waterloo and Lowndesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9% ±13.8 Highest
SC: 18.9%
10.2% ±14.2 Lowest
SC: 18.9%
Waterloo and Lowndesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9% Lowest
SC: 32.1%
25.6% Highest
SC: 32.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2% ±6.7 Highest
SC: 5.7%
1% ±7 Lowest
SC: 5.7%
Waterloo and Lowndesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Rentmedian gross, monthly
— $510 ±$177
57% below SC
Property taxmedian, yearly
$383
69% below SC
—
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100% ±100 Highest
SC: 52.1%
52.9% ±79.2 Lowest
SC: 52.1%
Waterloo and Lowndesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
37.3% Highest
SC: 14.1%
32% Lowest
SC: 14.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.1% Highest
SC: 71.9%
59.3% Lowest
SC: 71.9%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970 Highest
22 yrs older than SC
1967 Lowest
25 yrs older than SC
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
43 min Highest
69% above SC
38 min Lowest
50% above SC
Work from home
0% ±26.4
SC: 11.5%
0% ±21.2
SC: 11.5%
Work in townworking residents
1.4% Highest
0% Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
32.3 mi Highest
30.3 mi Lowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.58 Highest
0.26 Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town
Laurens (13%) Greenwood (11%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Lowndesville Few work in Waterloo
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town
0% Lowest
0.2% Highest
Trailsmapped miles
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0
0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
4.5 Lowest
20.9 Highest
Schools
School district
Laurens 55 —
High school in town
None in town —
South Carolina average“±” Census margin of error ACS 2020–2024
Deciding? Ask the people who live there The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.
Waterloo or Lowndesville: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Waterloo? →
Moving to Waterloo: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Waterloo’s Town Square.
Lowndesville or Waterloo: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Lowndesville? →
Moving to Lowndesville: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Lowndesville’s Town Square.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.
Copyright © 2026 TownTapestry · The guide for every city and town in America · In loving memory of John Cullinane whose interest in maps and discovering new places was contagious. Share TownTapestry to support us · Browse by state · Privacy · Terms