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COUNTY

Lee County

South Carolina · 15,730 residents (2025 est.) · 410.184 sq mi
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The short version

Lee County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,760. Population has fallen 20% since 2000, a loss of 3,953 residents. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $104,600. The poverty rate of 25.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 35% less than the South Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,166
−20%since 2000
from 20,119 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
39 / sq mi
−19%since 2009
from 49 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.4
+19%since 2000
from 35.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:15,730 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K17K18K19K21K1990201020202024Lee County
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(788)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.7%(595)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(1,070)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.4%(1,202)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.7%(1,084)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.7%(1,895)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.4%(2,011)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.4%(1,848)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(2,318)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.6%(2,043)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.5%(1,051)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(261)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,760
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,907 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,949
+72%since 2000
from $13,896 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
25.6%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 21.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.450
−5%since 2010
from 0.473 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$104,600
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$823
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $330 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.5%
−8.9 ptssince 2000
from 79.4% in 2000
29.5% rent
Vacancy rate
16.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.9%
+8.4 ptssince 2009
from 31.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
−8%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
56
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lee County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic34.6%(6,961)
Black63.3%(12,736)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(264)
Asian0.2%(36)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic33.2%(5,374)
Black62.2%(10,051)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(390)
Asian0.2%(26)
Other2%(325)
Diversity Score
63
−1%since 2009
from 63 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−6%since 2020
from 27 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.4%(225)
Honduran0.7%(110)
Cuban0.2%(27)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(15)
Hmong0.1%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(22)
Ancestry
American5.7%(928)
English5.3%(853)
German3.5%(564)
Irish2.8%(457)
West Indian2.3%(376)
Jamaican2.2%(363)
Scottish1.4%(233)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(199)
British0.5%(79)
Welsh0.5%(73)
Italian0.4%(69)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Israeli0.3%(43)
French0.3%(41)
Hungarian0.2%(37)
Swedish0.2%(30)
Belgian0.1%(23)
Polish0.1%(23)
Haitian0.1%(13)
Norwegian0.1%(11)
Greek0.1%(10)
Arab0%(6)
Czech0%(5)
Dutch0%(3)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest West Indian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.5%
+19.1 ptssince 2000
from 61.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.9 min
+38%since 2000
from 21.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.6%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 74.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.8%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.7%
−10.7 ptssince 2011
from 17.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
46.3%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 50.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.7%
−29.0 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Female
49.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−45.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2012
from 16.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.3%
−72.5 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.7%
+35.5 ptssince 2017
from 49.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married44.4%(3,064)
Married41.5%(2,861)
Widowed4.8%(332)
Divorced9.3%(638)
Women 15+
Never married36.5%(2,486)
Married40%(2,728)
Widowed12.9%(877)
Divorced10.7%(727)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 16,273
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Head to head

Compare Lee County to nearby counties

LEE COUNTY VS
Sumter County
Income$56,693+27%
Home value$165,300+58%
Population105,067+568%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Darlington County
Income$48,581+9%
Home value$158,200+51%
Population62,888+300%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Kershaw County
Income$68,231+52%
Home value$217,100+108%
Population73,166+365%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Florence County
Income$58,305+30%
Home value$177,900+70%
Population138,504+781%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lee County, South Carolina?

Lee County, South Carolina has about 16,166 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lee County, South Carolina?

The typical household in Lee County, South Carolina earns about $44,760 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lee County, South Carolina expensive?

In Lee County, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $104,600, and the typical rent is about $823 a month.

How educated are people in Lee County, South Carolina?

About 11.6% of adults age 25 and over in Lee County, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lee County, South Carolina?

About 25.0% of people in Lee County, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lee County, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Lee County, South Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,271 residents, a change of about -12 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

9 census tracts
Census Tract 9203.02Census Tract 9202.01Census Tract 9204.01Census Tract 9202.02Census Tract 9205Census Tract 9201Census Tract 9206Census Tract 9204.02Census Tract 9203.01
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 29010ZIP 29080ZIP 29104ZIP 29046
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →