Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Ratings
Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.
Amenities
It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Health & Safety
Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.
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.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Lancaster | South Carolina | National |
| Average one way commute | 25min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 77.9% | 82.8% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.1% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.2% | 0.6% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.5% | 3.6% | 4.6% |
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