RANK #587 / 1001 NAT · #27 / 51 NC · POP 65,816
1YR FORECAST: -1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Lee County, North Carolina, is known as the "brick making capital" of the United States, with Sanford, the county seat, historically producing more bricks than any other U.S. city. Located in the state's Piedmont region, Lee County sits about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh, making commutes to the larger city feasible for residents. The community offers a blend of small-town living with access to natural amenities, including San-Lee Park, which provides hiking, biking, and kayaking opportunities across its 177 acres. The Deep River, forming the county's northern boundary, also offers scenic areas and historical sites like the Deep River Camelback Truss Bridge.
Life in Lee County often appeals to families and young professionals, with a majority of residents owning their homes. The public school system is considered above average, with institutions like Lee Early College and Tramway Elementary School ranking highly. Recent economic growth in the county is driven by significant investments in manufacturing and data centers in the surrounding region, creating new job opportunities and increasing demand for housing. The County of Lee Transit System (COLTS) and the new Buzzline microtransit service provide on-demand transportation options for residents.
Lee County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.1% YoY, population +1.9%, wages +3.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 9.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Lee County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Deep River Data AI Data Center (Proposed)
Deep River Data
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Pfizer Expansion
Pfizer
|
$500M | Completed |
|
Audentes Therapeutics Investment
Audentes Therapeutics
|
$109M | Completed |
|
Adams Village Commercial Project
To be determined (developer)
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Midtown Village East (Mixed-Use Development)
To be determined (developer)
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Lee County scores 41/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#587). Median household income is $65,387 and job growth is running at -0.9%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Lee County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $240,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,017/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Lee County's population is growing — up +1.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.9%). Home values shifted +0.1% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.92% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lee County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.