The Town FilesLake City, South Carolina
City in Florence County · population 5,903 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,300
- Household income
- $33,600
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 43.7
Lake City is a city of 5,903 people in Florence County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $144,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 74% of South Carolina towns.
How Lake City ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lake City is worth $144,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $33,600, which is more affordable than 25% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $702 a month. 43.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake City | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $702 | $937 |
| Median household income | $33,600 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 43.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Lake City
| People | Lake City | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Lake City
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 34.3°F. About 49.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 16, 1996 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 25, 1984.
Severe weather in Florence County since 1996
Florence County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Florence County
Florence County had 68,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,861 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Lake City itself the ACS puts it at 9.7%.
Public schools in Lake City
5 public schools with 1,941 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City High | 9-12 | 552 | 16.2 |
| J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet | 6-12 | 406 | 13.5 |
| Lake City Early Childhood Center | PK-2 | 397 | 16.5 |
| Main Street Elementary | 3-6 | 324 | 24.9 |
| Ronald E. McNair Jr. High | 7-8 | 262 | 16.4 |
Towns near Lake City
- Kingstree, SC14.5 mi · 3,244 people · home $177,000
- Florence, SC21.6 mi · 39,899 people · home $211,400
- Manning, SC29.2 mi · 3,878 people · home $157,600
- Marion, SC29.7 mi · 6,448 people · home $137,300
Lake City questions
Is Lake City, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake City scores better for retirees than 68% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 47%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Lake City?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake City is valued at $144,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $33,600, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $702 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake City?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 34.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Lake City get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 16, 1996. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)