Lancaster 55 Below average
Lancaster Livability #301 ranked city in South Carolina#23,178 ranked city in the USARanks better than 20% of areas
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What's it like Living in Lancaster?

Located in the state of South Carolina, Lancaster is a smaller city with a population of 9,482 inhabitants. Lancaster is mostly populated by White (47%) and Black or African American (49%) ethnic groups. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Lancaster, only 47% of the population is married. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Lancaster is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 25 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Lancaster could be a positive experience compared to other cities in South Carolina if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Lancaster, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, commute, health & safety, education and more.

The livability score in Lancaster is 60/100 and the city is ranked in the 37th percentile of all cities across America. This is a lower than the national average livability score as Lancaster does not rank well for most categories. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Lancaster has higher than average grades for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (B+). On a more negative note, Lancaster does not have favorable scores for the following: amenities (F), crime (F) and employment (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Lancaster market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Lancaster. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Lancaster are affordable. Median real estate prices in Lancaster come in at $287,097, which is 10.4% higher than the South Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Lancaster, the home price to income ratio is 6.4, which is 68.4% higher than the South Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Lancaster

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Lancaster?

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Compare Lancaster, SC Livability

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      Lancaster transportation information

      Statistic Lancaster South Carolina National
      Average one way commute25min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work77.9%82.8%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.1%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.2%0.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.3%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home5.5%3.6%4.6%
      Source: The Lancaster, SC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.