1st Advantage MortgageIn Lee County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $65,387 a year and the typical rent is $1,017. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in North Carolina before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Lee County
- Renting and owning in Lee County
- Paychecks and income spread in Lee County
- The Lee County job picture
- Towns and communities in Lee County
- How Lee County compares with nearby counties
- Lee County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Lee County
- What a median Lee County budget can carry
- Checklist for Lee County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Lee County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lee County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lee County's population at 65,816; only 40 of North Carolina's 100 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 255 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 258 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Lee County is not part of any metropolitan area. Sanford is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 31,478 people (48% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Lee County
A typical Lee County rental runs $1,017 a month including utilities, which is 17% below North Carolina. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $240,200, about 3.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 67%. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Cost | Lee County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,017/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $240,200 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.7% | 11.0% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Lee County
Lee County households have a median income of $65,387 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 38th of 100 in North Carolina.
| Yearly household income | Lee County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | +2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.6% | -2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -5.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Lee County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. 16.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.421 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lee County median.
The Lee County job picture
The biggest employer of Lee County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 19% of workers, followed by education and health care (18%). Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (19% against 12%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Lee County. 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 3.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Lee County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 18.6% | +6.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.6% | -4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.0% | -2.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +1.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lee County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Towns and communities in Lee County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 50% of Lee County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | city | 31,478 | $57,586 | $1,052 | 1 mi |
| Broadway | town | 1,657 | $64,926 | $981 | 7 mi |
How Lee County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (16 to 36 miles). Income ranges from $61,291 in Cumberland County to $105,768 in Wake County; 4 of these neighbors top Lee County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | - | $65,387 | $1,017/mo | 67% |
| Chatham County, NC | 16 mi | $94,317 | $1,180/mo | 81% |
| Harnett County, NC | 18 mi | $71,287 | $1,112/mo | 71% |
| Moore County, NC | 21 mi | $86,080 | $1,254/mo | 76% |
| Hoke County, NC | 32 mi | $64,912 | $1,089/mo | 73% |
| Cumberland County, NC | 35 mi | $61,291 | $1,222/mo | 55% |
| Wake County, NC | 36 mi | $105,768 | $1,623/mo | 64% |
Lee County residents: age, schooling, coverage
21% of Lee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 12% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Lee County | North Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.3% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.1% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.2% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
Before borrowing in Lee County
A few patterns in the Lee County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Vehicle repairs. 20% of Lee County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 15% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
What a median Lee County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lee County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Lee County: $5,449
- 19% goes to median rent ($1,017)
- $1,163: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Lee County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checklist for Lee County applicants
Steps that save money for Lee County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lee County-area credit union.
- Verify the North Carolina license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Lee County residents
Consumer lenders serving Lee County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Carolina that is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on North Carolina: North Carolina personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lee County?
$65,387 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 38th of 100 in the state.
Is Lee County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,017 against $1,228 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Lee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sanford, Broadway.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Lee County or elsewhere in North Carolina, the same rules apply.
Is there a Lee County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Carolina it is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.