Lancaster, SC
Census place 4539895 · pop 8,921
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
75.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
43.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
37.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$46,311 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
18.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
16.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
21.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.49 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
50.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-2.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
21.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
26 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$239,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
73/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,373/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.55% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
Not measured for Lancaster: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Lancaster, SC a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Lancaster scores 33/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is property-tax burden and its weakest is broadband access. South Carolina overall ranks #21 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Lancaster, SC expensive to live in?
- Lancaster has a median home value of $239,100 and typical rent around $1,373/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Lancaster, SC?
- Its weakest measured area is broadband access (75.3%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Lancaster, SC best at?
- Its strongest measured area is property-tax burden (0.55%) — 87/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.