For those looking for Lancaster County, SC, real estate, welcome to a land of opportunity. This slice of the Piedmont section in South Carolina has multiple advantages. It starts with a low cost of land and affordable living, but that’s a small part of the high quality of life waiting outside the Charlotte, NC, metro. Add in a mild climate, intrepid business spirit, and classic southern hospitality. Small towns showcase friendliness and community spirit while being close to significant employers and transportation corridors gives them economic strength. See what Lancaster County has to offer and if it’s the best place for you to live in South Carolina.

About Lancaster County SC

Historic Lancaster County is in the northern region of South Carolina. Located optimally between two major metropolitan areas, residents enjoy small-town living. Some consider its towns part of the Charlotte, North Carolina suburbs. It’s just 40 minutes south of this major city. It’s also just 60 miles north of South Carolina’s capital, Columbia.

The borders create an unusual shape, with a narrow strip of land forming an antenna-like “panhandle.” On the South Carolina side, it shares borders with York, Chester, Fairfield, Chesterfield, and Kershaw counties. In North Carolina, it’s beside Mecklenburg and Union County. The region closer to Charlotte has more development, while the southern portions tend to be more rural and agricultural.

While no major interstates run through Lancaster, US 521 is an essential corridor for the county’s economic growth, providing a strong foundation for potential investment opportunities.

Four rivers grace the landscape of Lancaster County: the Catawba River, Little Lynches River, Lynches River, and Hanging Rock Creek. These rivers not only add to the scenic beauty of the region but also serve as important regional resources for tourism and power generation.

Lancaster County is an essential provider for the region agriculturally and through mining. The Haile Gold Mine, which produced a total value of $7 million, was the largest gold mine east of the Mississippi River.

Lancaster County, SC, Cost of Living

Residents enjoy a reasonable cost of living. Based on the Cost of Living Index, where a score of 100 represents the US average, Lancaster County was right on par with the national average. Scoring 99.5 in 2024, miscellaneous costs were 20% below average, while housing costs average 6% under. Locals do tend to spend more on health care, transportation, and utilities. What you actually spend to live here depends on where you live in the county and your preferred lifestyle.

Lancaster County History

Many areas of Lancaster County have historical significance. It has a rich history dating back to our country’s founding; an American president was born and raised here. Various small towns have homes on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Catawba and Waxhaw Native Americans initially inhabited the area known today as Lancaster County. They were drawn to the area by its wildlife and natural bounty.

European settlement began in the early 1750s when Scots-Irish immigrants seeking religious freedom and cheap land moved into the area known as Waxhaws, today northern Lancaster County. Soon after, more European immigrants from Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania developed a second colony.

Lancaster was named for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where different immigrants originated.

During the American Revolution, Buford’s Massacre took place ten miles east of the Town of Lancaster. British forces killed or wounded almost all 350 patriots of Colonel Abraham Buford’s retreating troops. A few months later, the travesty was avenged when Colonel Thomas Sumter surprised and defeated British forces at the Battle of Hanging Rock in the southern part of Lancaster County.

General William T. Sherman occupied the town of Lancaster on his way to Virginia during his Southern campaign in 1865. The Union Soldiers attempted to burn the courthouse and the jail, but the damage was not severe to either building. The soldiers did loot the town and used the Presbyterian Church as a stable for the horses.

During the post-war era, the Springs Cotton Mill was founded and became a large textile plant. The plant became vital to the fortunes of Lancaster and its citizens. The mill and its owners had tremendous local influence into the twentieth century.

Lancaster County Cities and Areas

The town of Lancaster serves as the county seat. It was named after the famous House of Lancaster and Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, where many early European settlers emigrated. The town is nicknamed the “Red Rose City,” after the House of Lancaster from The War of the Roses. Residents here have an independent spirit and a strong arts community.

The town of Heath Springs is a small town to the south of Lancaster. It prides itself on its southern hospitality. The nearby Hanging Rock Mineral Spring was known for its healing springs during the 1850s. People came into the area seeking the healthful benefits of the mineral waters.

The town of Kershaw is shared between Lancaster and Kershaw counties. This lively small-town community includes golf courses, bowling alleys, parks, community centers, and more amenities. Kershaw runs events and festivals, such as the Tailgate Festival and Wreaths Across America. Kershaw has a farmer’s market and a golf club.

The panhandle region is home to more economic development and manufacturing. The unincorporated area called Indian Land, SC, is sandwiched between the Charlotte suburb of Fort Mill and Waxhaw. It is close to places like Ballantyne, Marvin, and the Anne Close Springs Greenway.

The southern area of Lancaster remains more rural, with unincorporated areas like Antioch, Buford, and Cauthens Crossroads.

Lancaster County Job Market

The top employing industries in Lancaster County are retail trade, manufacturing, professional services, and administrative services.

Lancaster’s top employers based on their size include, but are not limited to, Cardinal Health, Continental Tire North America, Haile Gold Mine, Kanawha Insurance Company, Keeramerica, Medical University Of South Carolina, Movement Mortgage, Nutramax Manufacturing, The Budd Group, and TriNet USA.

Manufacturing represents around 14% of all the jobs available in Lancaster County. There are facilities for Cardinal Health, Keer America, Nutramax Laboratories, Oceanagold, PCI Group, and Rico Industries. A range of manufacturing work is available, from textiles to pharmaceuticals to metal fabrication.

The July 2024 unemployment rate in Lancaster was 5%, slightly above the state rate and the United States average. A decade ago, the unemployment rate was 14.9%, but this declined to 3.2% in 2019 before the pandemic.

A Lancaster County Community profile projected that the job market would increase by 13.6% from 2016 to 2026, adding over 18,000 new jobs. The industries with the most anticipated growth were accommodation and food services, health care, wholesale trades, and transportation and warehousing.

Lancaster County, SC, Real Estate Market

The Piedmont Regional Association of Realtors tracks real estate market data in Lancaster County. The region benefited from the pandemic-era housing bump, but median home prices have stabilized since then.

For the year-to-date ending August 2024, new listings were up 8%. The median home sales price in Lancaster County home was $418,500, just a 0.8% bump and backing the recent stabilization in the market. It’s also an increase from the July 2021 median price of $385,000.

The national housing market at this time has experienced an increase in new listings but a slowdown in closed sales as high mortgage rates persist. Lancaster County homes for sale mimic this trend, with a 5.4% reduction in closed sales YTD.

The days on market until the sale was 40, a 5.3% increase. As of August 2024, the month’s supply of inventory was 2.8 months. Even though there are more properties for sale, and home prices have moderated, there is a still a need for more active listings as of late 2024.

Most of the market is single-family homes, but there are condos and townhomes for sale. Of the 956 active listings in October 2024, 70 where of this property type. Most were closer to Fort Mill and Indian Land, SC.

In the Town of Lancaster, the market had a 10% year-over-year growth in active homes for sale. Median sale prices were $316,250 for the YTD with a 2.8-month supply of inventory. Kershaw homes were not listed frequently enough to provide meaningful data.

Lancaster County property taxes reported an average effective property tax rate of 0.61%. The median home value was $182,400. Based on those figures, the average homeowner paid $1,003.20 in property taxes.

In 2024, the total residential millage rate was 174.5 for Lancaster County taxes. About 101.0 of that is towards county operations and debt service. The remainder is for special levies for items like courthouse operations. School taxes are exempt on residential properties but not on your vehicle taxes. Learn about South Carolina property taxes.

Lancaster County Population

The latest data puts the county’s residential population at 104,544 as of 2024. The April 2020 Census found the county had a 20% growth in new residents. Historically, the number of people living in Lancaster County has grown since the 1970s, but the 2020 Census report exceeds the 2030 projection of 83,940.

Demographically, the age bracket with the most number of residents was the 45-to-49-year-old group. According to the US Census Bureau, the average age of a Lancaster County resident was 42.1 years old.

Lancaster County Education

The Lancaster County School District runs 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, and four high schools. There is an additional career center, adult education, and early childhood center. Around 14,000 students attend the public schools. Top-ranked schools include Indian Land High School, Harrisburg Elementary School, and Andrew Jackson High School.

There are two private schools serving the K-12 age range based in the county: Carolina Christian Academy and Lancaster Christian Academy. Other private school choices are across the border in York, Mecklenburg, and Union Counties.

Higher education is available at The University of South Carolina- Lancaster. It is one of the four regional state colleges in the University of South Carolina system. USC Lancaster offers associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs.

Lancaster County Health Care

MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center is the county’s leading healthcare provider. Its 156-bed facility has facilities for acute care, diagnostic services, women’s health, emergency treatment, wound care, orthopedic services, cardiac services, and more.

Rebound Behavioral Health Hospital is an adult in-patient treatment center and substance abuse rehab program. It has 63 beds on its peaceful, wooded estate.

Lancaster County Things To Do

Much of what makes Lancaster County an attractive place to live has to do with its beautiful outdoors. It also attracts history buffs interested in the scene of some significant American Revolutionary War battles and the birthplace of an American president.

For example, Andrew Jackson State Park in Lancaster is a popular park because it combines exploring history with outdoor recreation. A museum and interactive exhibits chronicle Andrew Jackson’s early years in the South Carolina backcountry. There’s also a replica schoolhouse, campground, fishing lake, and nature trails.

Forty Acre Rock is the highest point in Lancaster County, South Carolina. Walk the hiking trail for fantastic views and see the specialized environment unique to the Piedmont Region.

The Catawba River is a significant watershed for South Carolina. In Lancaster County, it runs into Fishing Creek Reservoir near Great Falls. Access the river and its reservoir for fishing and water recreation.

More lakes, such as the Lancaster Reservoir and Lake Wateree, are prime waters to fish for largemouth bass, bluegill, red ear sunfish, and catfish. Lake Wateree’s uppermost reaches form the southeastern corner of Lancaster County; in sum, it has 13,800 acres available for water recreation.

Two golf courses are available in Lancaster County: Edgewater Golf Club and Lancaster Golf Club. Edgewater is called a “Hidden Gem in South Carolina” and is ranked as one of the hardest courses in the Charlotte area by the Charlotte Business Journal.

The Chamber of Commerce can provide a map for a walking tour of downtown Lancaster’s historic district or a driving tour of the historic sites.

The Red Rose Festival in Lancaster is an award-winning weekend event with live music, arts and crafts, children’s activities, a dog show, and more. The city hosts other events around the holidays, such as a May 4th event, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving festivals.

Lancaster County Local Attractions

Visit the Buford Battle Ground and gravesite, a historical site from the American Revolution. Even though the Patriots waved a white flag of surrender, they were either killed or wounded by British forces. The Daughters of the American Revolution have erected a monument at the site.

The Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve is almost 3,000 acres of protected area in the Piedmont Region. It features granite flat rocks, water slides, waterfalls, caves, and hardwood forests. There is a two-mile out and back trailhead.

The Lindsay Pettus Greenway connects two miles of downtown Lancaster and many different businesses and neighborhoods. Its paved walking and biking trail, which is a segment of the Carolina Thread Trail, is being expanded.

Lancaster also has cultural attractions such as the Lancaster Cultural Arts District, the Community Playhouse, which hosts local and some traveling acts, and the Native American Studies Center, a resource for studying and preserving Native American culture.

The Hall Family Farm is a local favorite. Stop by to pick strawberries in the spring or pumpkins in the fall. There’s a corn maze and other family events throughout the year.

Lancaster County Dining

Southern-style cuisine is popular in different communities, but you can still find restaurants that serve Mexican, Asian style, or classic American fare. Here’s a sampling of what’s available:

• Jomar’s Family Restaurant is a classic southern diner with buffet and sit-down-style dining
• Benford Brewing, a one-of-a-kind agricultural brewery destination with craft beer and farmhouse fun.
• 521 BBQ and Grill in Lancaster rubs its Boston butts with signature spices and is smoked for 14 hours on site.
• The Office Craft Bar and Kitchen, an upscale gastropub in Indian Land

Lancaster County Shopping

The town of Lancaster has a downtown area with local shops selling unique retail wares and providing services to area residents. The town runs a website that lists all the open businesses, from the local to smaller retail chains.

Visit The Shops on Main Street in Lancaster, a multi-vendor antique and local artist mall, for a unique shopping destination. You’ll find handcrafted furniture, rare finds, and home decor.

Lancaster Farmers Market opens in May and runs through December. It operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays throughout the summer and on Saturdays during the warmer months of the year. The town of Kershaw also has a farmers market that runs on Saturdays.

Living in Lancaster County

Lancaster County’s residents enjoy its various amenities. Its Upcountry location is close to the larger metropolitan areas in South Carolina and North Carolina. It’s also relatively close to the Appalachian Mountains and not a far drive from the Atlantic beaches. While living near these big city centers and the employment opportunities they provide, residents still have an affordable cost of living and enjoy a small-town lifestyle. It’s no wonder Lancaster County is growing by leaps and bounds. Explore Lancaster County, SC, real estate with a local expert.

Updated October 2021