United States › South Carolina › Lake City CITY
Lake City South Carolina · 5,940 residents (2025 est.) · 5.45 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Lake City is home to 5,988 people in South Carolina. 44% of homes are owner-occupied. Households here earn about 52% less than in South Carolina as a whole. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 25.7% of people here live below the federal poverty line. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $144,300.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 6,478 in 2000
5,940 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,099 / sq mi
−10%since 2009
from 1,219 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 34.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K 6K 7K 7K 7K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lake City Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $33,600
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,534 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,452 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 31.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.495 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Transportation & warehousing 3.3%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Education & health services 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$144,300
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$702
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $301 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 66.5% in 2000
56.5% rent
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.28 people
−20%since 2009
from 2.84 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 31.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 51.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 26.8%(1,734)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(71)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 22.6%(1,354)
Hispanic / Latino 0.4%(25)
from 48 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data from 15.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 58.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 19.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 79.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 20.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 49.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 66.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 24.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 51.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 80.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 3.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 56.2%(1,372)
Women 15+
Never married 53.3%(1,492)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 37.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 25.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 42.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 48.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 55.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 33.8%(137)
Gulf War (1990s) 50.9%(206)
Share of the 405 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Lake City, South Carolina? Lake City, South Carolina has about 5,988 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lake City, South Carolina? The typical household in Lake City, South Carolina earns about $33,600 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Lake City, South Carolina expensive? In Lake City, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $144,300, and the typical rent is about $702 a month.
How educated are people in Lake City, South Carolina? About 19.6% of adults age 25 and over in Lake City, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lake City, South Carolina? About 25.7% of people in Lake City, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lake City, South Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Lake City, South Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,165 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.
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