The Town FilesLancaster, South Carolina
City in Lancaster County · population 8,460 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $239,100
- Household income
- $46,311
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 40.4
Lancaster is a city of 8,460 people in Lancaster County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $239,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more walkable than 91% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 90% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 83% of South Carolina towns.
How Lancaster 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 Lancaster is worth $239,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $46,311, which is more affordable than 12% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $868 a month. 50.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lancaster | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $239,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $868 | $937 |
| Median household income | $46,311 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 50.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Lancaster
| People | Lancaster | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.2% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in Lancaster
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 7, 2004 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 12, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| 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 Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 28,110 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,550 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Lancaster itself the ACS puts it at 9.6%.
Public schools in Lancaster
15 public schools with 9,018 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Land High | 9-12 | 1,821 | 18.2 |
| Lancaster High | 9-12 | 1,393 | 17.0 |
| Van Wyck Elementary | PK-4 | 819 | 15.5 |
| Buford Elementary | PK-5 | 758 | 16.8 |
| North Elementary | PK-5 | 618 | 15.1 |
| Buford High | 9-12 | 554 | 12.9 |
| A. R. Rucker Middle | 6-8 | 513 | 14.7 |
| South Middle | 6-8 | 492 | 14.1 |
| Erwin Elementary | PK-5 | 419 | 13.5 |
| Clinton Elementary | PK-5 | 405 | 14.0 |
| Brooklyn Springs Elementary | PK-5 | 393 | 12.3 |
| Buford Middle | 6-8 | 368 | 14.7 |
Towns near Lancaster
- Lesslie, SC14.6 mi · 3,068 people · home $258,400
- Waxhaw, NC14.9 mi · 20,534 people · home $549,400
- Mineral Springs, NC16.1 mi · 3,159 people · home $389,900
- Marvin, NC19.2 mi · 6,358 people · home $906,000
- Wesley Chapel, NC20.1 mi · 8,681 people · home $535,500
- Rock Hill, SC20.1 mi · 74,372 people · home $295,100
- Weddington, NC20.7 mi · 13,181 people · home $824,100
- Fort Mill, SC21.5 mi · 24,521 people · home $487,500
Lancaster questions
Is Lancaster, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lancaster scores better for retirees than 20% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 6%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Lancaster?
The median owner-occupied home in Lancaster is valued at $239,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,311, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $868 a month.
What is the weather like in Lancaster?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does Lancaster get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 7, 2004. 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)