Population 10,460 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lake City
Household size in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.74 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.66 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.36 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Lake City is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.74, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.5 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.9 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.4 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.8 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.3 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Lake City is 43.8 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.5 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 23.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in eight households in Lake City (13.2%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 8.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lake City
Renters in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.2% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.5% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 42.7% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over four in ten households in Lake City rent their homes (42.7%), above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 59.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 6.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 12 have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.8% of the housing in Lake City, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 1.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Lake City are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in South Carolina as a whole, where the median home dates to 1991. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the east has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $508 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $574 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $696 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $757 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$249 | +$514 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lake City pays $757 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $249 a month since 2006–10, up 49%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.1% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 11 have lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lake City
Bachelor's degrees in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Lake City have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.6%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.2 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.1% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 74.7% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 77.5% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.0% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.9 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Lake City never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 12.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lake City
| Period | Lake City | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.3% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.2 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Lake City: 9.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 9.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lake City compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City | 2.38 | 43.8 | 13.2% | 42.7% | 15.8% | 1981 | $757 | 19.6% | 85.0% | 9.0% |
| Scranton | 2.76 | 38.0 | 16.4% | 32.1% | 20.6% | 1987 | $781 | 15.6% | 86.0% | 6.6% |
| Cades | 2.17 | 46.8 | 16.1% | 18.9% | 12.1% | 1984 | $934 | 20.5% | 86.6% | 2.4% |
| Moores Crossroads | 2.37 | 38.1 | 11.7% | 17.2% | 11.2% | 1980 | $1,026 | 33.4% | 95.0% | 4.3% |
| Leo | 2.52 | 48.1 | 12.1% | 18.0% | 14.1% | 1988 | $747 | 25.0% | 85.9% | 3.9% |
| Olanta | 2.84 | 40.5 | 14.0% | 22.8% | 19.5% | 1977 | $878 | 8.9% | 83.8% | 9.9% |
| Hannah | 2.49 | 45.0 | 8.9% | 34.4% | 14.1% | 1989 | $599 | 20.2% | 80.7% | 1.1% |
| Union Crossroads | 2.69 | 34.6 | 10.4% | 9.8% | 9.9% | 1981 | $992 | 42.8% | 95.8% | 5.2% |
| Fowler | 2.37 | 43.1 | 12.3% | 16.5% | 21.7% | 1986 | $730 | 10.9% | 83.9% | 4.4% |
| Pamplico | 2.69 | 41.6 | 15.9% | 37.2% | 18.9% | 1982 | $623 | 11.3% | 76.2% | 12.0% |
| New Zion | 2.75 | 39.7 | 11.6% | 13.0% | 9.1% | 1984 | $876 | 26.1% | 89.6% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Oxford, MA · Mountain City, TN · Munhall, PA · Myrtle Grove, NC · Natrona Heights, PA · Navasota, TX · Nevada, MO · New Brighton, PA · New London, WI · Newalla, OK
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lake City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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