Lancaster County, South Carolina Demographics 2026
Lancaster County, South Carolina has a population of 104,475, the 16th most populous county in South Carolina. The median household income is $78,869 and the median home value is $329,900. The poverty rate is 11.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Lancaster County Quick Facts
How Lancaster County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 100,905 | 104,475 | +3.5% |
| Median household income | $74,751 | $78,869 | +5.5% |
| Median home value | $298,100 | $329,900 | +10.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 55 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Lancaster County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | 8,921 | $46,311 | 21.2% | $239,100 |
| Elgin | 2,360 | $77,994 | 2.9% | $191,700 |
| Kershaw | 2,259 | $68,693 | 15.0% | $168,200 |
| Springdale | 2,198 | $41,398 | 30.0% | $114,700 |
| Irwin | 1,919 | $55,885 | 26.1% | $176,900 |
| Heath Springs | 955 | $52,569 | 16.0% | $109,100 |
| Van Wyck | 951 | $38,250 | 5.4% | $279,200 |
| Buford | 346 | $81,583 | 2.9% | $210,700 |
| Unity | 244 | $48,194 | 3.3% | $193,100 |
| Tradesville | 174 | $59,625 | 5.2% | $172,500 |
Explore South Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Lancaster County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 104,475. It is the 16th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Lancaster County is 42.5 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Lancaster County is $78,869. This is 14% higher than the state median of $69,324. It is also 2% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.4%. This is 19% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $329,900. Housing costs are 27% higher than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 71.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Lancaster County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 19.3%.
Education
33.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 32.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Lancaster County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against South Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Lancaster County, South Carolina?
Lancaster County has a population of 104,475, making it the 16th most populous county in South Carolina.
What is the median income in Lancaster County?
The median household income in Lancaster County is $78,869 with a poverty rate of 11.4%.
How many cities are in Lancaster County, South Carolina?
Lancaster County contains 10 Census-designated places.