RANK #734 / 996 · POP 97,611 · SC
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.2%
Lancaster County, South Carolina, distinguishes itself with its historical ties, particularly as the birthplace of President Andrew Jackson. The county, named after England's House of Lancaster, is located in north-central South Carolina, approximately 40 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina, and 60 miles north of Columbia, South Carolina. Commuting to Charlotte typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic. The community offers a blend of small-town living with access to big-city amenities. Outdoor recreation is available at places like Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve and along the Catawba River, which attracts kayakers and fishermen. Andrew Jackson State Park also provides nature trails and a fishing lake.
Life in Lancaster County offers a mix of affordability and community. The county is experiencing population growth, attracting families, young professionals, and retirees. The Lancaster County School District serves over 13,000 students across 25 schools, with some schools performing above average. While a car-first lifestyle is common, the Lancaster Area Ride Service (LARS) provides transportation options for residents. The local economy, once dominated by textiles, has diversified, with recent investments in corporate facilities and advanced manufacturing. This economic shift has brought new job opportunities to the area.
Above national median (4.7x)
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.3x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
AI Data Center (Greenfield Road & Harrisburg Pike)
CoreWeave (leased from Chirisa Technology Parks/Machine Investment Group)
|
$6,000M | Under Construction |
|
Residential Land Development (Great Falls Highway)
Broadstreet Global
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Lancaster County has a Boom Town Index score of 26/100, ranking #734 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.5% and a median household income of $72,186, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Lancaster County is $272,100 with median rent at $881/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2653, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +3.1% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.5%. Home values changed -2.6% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.97% of Lancaster County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.