1st Advantage Mortgage40% of Lancaster County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $78,869 (ACS 2020-24). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Lancaster County offer.
On this page
- Lancaster County in brief
- Lancaster County's most unusual numbers
- Where Lancaster County works
- How much Lancaster County households make
- Homes and rents, Lancaster County
- Lancaster County communities by population
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Room for a loan payment in Lancaster County
- Who lives in Lancaster County, in numbers
- Reading the Lancaster County data as a borrower
- South Carolina lender licensing
- Checklist for Lancaster County applicants
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Lancaster County in brief
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lancaster County's population at 104,475; only 15 of South Carolina's 46 county-level areas are larger. Its 549 square miles average 190 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Lancaster County counts toward the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC include it. Largest place: Lancaster, about 8,921 residents (9% of Lancaster County); 10 Census places in all.
Lancaster County's most unusual numbers
Out of every South Carolina county, Lancaster County is most unusual on these measures.
- Few South Carolina counties match Lancaster County on households without a vehicle: 3.4% here, 5.7% for the state, ranking the lowest of 46. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
- Lancaster County ranks the highest of 46 South Carolina counties for the share of workers who work from home: 19.5%, against 11.5% statewide. Remote and self-employed income may need tax returns as proof.
- Lancaster County ranks 4th highest of 46 South Carolina counties for median home value: $329,900, against $259,000 statewide. Owners with equity have more options, including secured credit, but that puts the house at risk.
Where Lancaster County works
The biggest employer of Lancaster County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in finance, insurance and real estate, at 10% locally and 6% for South Carolina. 4.3% of Lancaster County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 19% work from home.
| Where residents work | Lancaster County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.1% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.0% | +3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Lancaster County households make
$78,869 is the median household income for Lancaster County, set against $69,324 for South Carolina. Only 4 South Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Lancaster County | Gap to South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.4% | -3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.3% | -3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.2% | +4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.0% | +2.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 40% of Lancaster County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. Lancaster County counts about 11,928 residents below the poverty line, 11.4% of the population. None of these numbers decides a Lancaster County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Homes and rents, Lancaster County
Renters in Lancaster County pay a median of $959 a month, 19% below the South Carolina figure of $1,180. About 6 in 10 Lancaster County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Home values center on $329,900, or 4.2 years of median income. 83% of Lancaster County households own their home and 17% rent. Nationally, Lancaster County's $959 rent is 9% above the middle county.
| Lancaster County | South Carolina | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $959/mo | $1,180/mo | 19% lower |
| Median home value | $329,900 | $259,000 | 27% higher |
| Owners | 83% | 72% | +11.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | +4.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 26% | -4.3 pts |
| Vacant units | 8% | 13% | -4.9 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Lancaster County communities by population
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Lancaster County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 20,327 people, so roughly 81% of residents live outside any named place. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $39,744, Elgin over Van Wyck. Median rent ranges from $750 in Kershaw to $943 in Springdale. From Lancaster to the smallest crossroads, Lancaster County residents share this guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | city | 8,921 | $46,311 | $868 | 5 mi |
| Elgin | CDP | 2,360 | $77,994 | $774 | 2 mi |
| Kershaw | town | 2,259 | $68,693 | $750 | 12 mi |
| Springdale | CDP | 2,198 | $41,398 | $943 | 4 mi |
| Irwin | CDP | 1,919 | $55,885 | $818 | 7 mi |
| Heath Springs | town | 955 | $52,569 | $907 | 7 mi |
| Van Wyck | town | 951 | $38,250 | $850 | 14 mi |
| Buford | CDP | 346 | $81,583 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Unity | CDP | 244 | $48,194 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Tradesville | CDP | 174 | $59,625 | n/a | 10 mi |
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Union County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, York County, is 34 miles off. Union County leads the group on income ($102,900), Fairfield County trails ($47,885), and Lancaster County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in North Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lancaster County resident follows South Carolina rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County | - | $78,869 | $959/mo | 83% |
| Union County, NC | 23 mi | $102,900 | $1,496/mo | 82% |
| Kershaw County, SC | 25 mi | $68,231 | $971/mo | 82% |
| Chester County, SC | 26 mi | $52,458 | $853/mo | 78% |
| Chesterfield County, SC | 31 mi | $49,235 | $762/mo | 73% |
| Fairfield County, SC | 31 mi | $47,885 | $938/mo | 75% |
| York County, SC | 34 mi | $89,095 | $1,387/mo | 75% |
Room for a loan payment in Lancaster County
Lancaster County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,572 before taxes
- 15% goes to median rent ($959)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,407 a month
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,867 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $959, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Lancaster County, in numbers
34% of Lancaster County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Lancaster County | +/- South Carolina | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 19.5% | +8.0 pts | +10.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | -2.7 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Median age | 42.5 | +2.3 yrs | +1.0 yrs |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | -2.3 pts | -2.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | -1.8 pts | 0.0 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.6% | +1.4 pts | +11.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | -0.6 pts | -0.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.0% | +0.1 pts | n/a |
| Commute length | Lancaster County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.0% |
| 60+ min | 9.4% |
Reading the Lancaster County data as a borrower
Lancaster County-specific points to check:
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lancaster County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 40% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 57% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
South Carolina lender licensing
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Lancaster County borrowers answers to the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions handles consumer-credit questions as well. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: South Carolina guide.
Checklist for Lancaster County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lancaster County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the South Carolina license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Keep exploring
The South Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is $78,869 a good income in Lancaster County?
It is the county median, so half of Lancaster County households earn more and half less; 40% earn $100,000 or more.
How does Lancaster County rent compare with South Carolina?
$959 locally versus $1,180 for the state, 19% below.
I live in a small Lancaster County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lancaster, Elgin, Kershaw, Springdale, Irwin and 5 more.
Can Lancaster County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every South Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Lancaster County residents?
The South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in South Carolina; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.