Is Lancaster County, SC good for real estate investing?

Lancaster County has an investment score of 47/100, rated as "Hold". The county ranks #609 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Lancaster?

The rent-to-price ratio in Lancaster County is 5.33% annually, which ranks in the 35th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Lancaster?

The median home price in Lancaster County is $382,488. This ranks #817 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Lancaster?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Lancaster County would generate negative cash flow of $900/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Lancaster County

South CarolinaPopulation: 97,611

/100

Hold

#609 of 1,000 counties

#22 in South Carolina (46 counties)

Market Snapshot

$382,488

Median Home Price

64% above national median

$1,700/mo

Median Rent

13% above national median

5.33%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 65% nationally

-$900

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$382,488

Down Payment (20%)$76,498

Loan Amount$305,990

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,700

Monthly P&I-$2,005

Est. Expenses (35%)-$595

Net Cash Flow-$900/mo

3.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.3%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.33%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

47/100

Cash Flow(30%)

50/100

Based on 5.33% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

39/100

Based on -2.3% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

51/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.3x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (5.33%)
-Declining home values (-2.3% YoY)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$900/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.5% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

97,611

Median Income

$72,186

vs $57,018 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

5.3x

Less affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentLancasterSC	47	$382,488	$1,700	5.33%	Hold
LaurensSC	47	$189,376	$1,013	6.42%	Hold	View
DillonSC	47	$120,426	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
FairfieldSC	47	$177,744	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
SaludaSC	47	$199,332	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
ColletonSC	46	$240,872	Est. pending	—	Hold	View

The Bottom Line

HoldLancaster is a neutral market. Consider house hacking or targeting below-market deals.

Lancaster County in South Carolina scores 47/100, ranking #609 of 1,000 US counties (top 81%). The 5.33% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-900/mo

Cap Rate

3.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-12.3%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Lancaster?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$382,488

Down Payment (20%)$76,498

Loan Amount$305,990

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,700

Monthly P&I-$2,005

Est. Expenses (35%)-$595

Net Cash Flow-$900/mo

3.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.3%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.33%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

47/100

Cash Flow(30%)

50/100

Based on 5.33% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

39/100

Based on -2.3% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

51/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.3x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

CurrentLancasterSC

$382,488

$1,700

5.33%

Hold

LaurensSC

$189,376

$1,013

6.42%

Hold

View

DillonSC

$120,426

Est. pending

—

Hold

View

FairfieldSC

$177,744

Est. pending

—

Hold

View

SaludaSC

$199,332

Est. pending

—

Hold

View

ColletonSC

$240,872

Est. pending

—

Hold

View

The Bottom Line

HoldLancaster is a neutral market. Consider house hacking or targeting below-market deals.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-900/mo

Cap Rate

3.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-12.3%