Lake City is a small town of 6,080 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $37,013
and a 8.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lake City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lake City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lake City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 88.0
Lake City's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lake City costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lake City, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$120,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$683
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
44.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$37,013
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Lake City's violent crime rate is 1802.3 per 100,000 residents
— 374% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1802.3 /100k
Property Crime
4749.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lake City is served primarily by Florence 03.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lake City, SC
National Avg
School District
Florence 03
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lake City sees average highs of 57.6°F in January
and 92.4°F in July,
with 49.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.6 inches of snow per year.
Lake City's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lake City roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $120,100 and median rent is $683/month.
Lake City's violent crime rate is 1802.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4749.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lake City are operated by Florence 03.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 21.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lake City, SC has a population of 6,080, a median household income of $37,013, and an unemployment rate of 8.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Lake City averages 57.6°F in January and 92.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.8 inches
with about 1.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lake City, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29560.
The population of Lake City, South Carolina is 6,080 with a median age of 41.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lake City: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $120,100, median household income $37,013, crime index 375 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lake City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
