Lake City city, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Lake City city is a small city located in South Carolina. The total population is 6,032. It ranks as the 94th most populous out of 475 cities and towns in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake City city is 44.1 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake City city is $35,000. This is 48% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 55% lower. The poverty rate stands at 24.5%. This is 73% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 39% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $133,700. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 42.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 41% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake City city is Black or African American, making up 68.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 23.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (23.7%) is well below the state average of 62.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (68.7% vs 25.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 7.1%.

Education

20.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lake City city, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in South Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.