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Lexington County, SC

RANK #667 / 996  ·  POP 295,934  ·  SC

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.2%

Lexington County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Lexington County?

Lexington County, South Carolina, is often recognized by locals for Lake Murray, a large reservoir offering 500 miles of shoreline and 50,000 acres of water for recreation like boating, fishing, and waterskiing. Situated in the Midlands region, it is part of the Columbia metropolitan area, with the town of Lexington serving as the county seat. Commutes to downtown Columbia typically take 22–30 minutes via I-20 East, though Highway 378 offers an alternative for other destinations. The county presents a blend of urban, suburban, and rural landscapes, with significant urbanization in its eastern and northeastern areas. Numerous parks, such as Virginia Hylton Park and Gibson Pond Park, provide additional outdoor amenities.

Life in Lexington County appeals to families and professionals, with public schools generally performing above average. The economy is experiencing growth, attracting investment in sectors like manufacturing, energy, and commercial and residential development. This expansion is supported by the county's central location in South Carolina, offering access to major interstates and proximity to the Port of Charleston. While public transportation exists through a regional bus system, personal vehicles remain the primary mode of transit.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
3.9x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+4.8%

Well above national median

Home Prices
+0.0%

Well below national median

Climate & Terrain
1.0

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
10x

Strong rental yield

Housing looks undervalued at 3.9x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Lexington County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
295,934
+1.44% YoY
Median Household Income
$71,280
Median Home Value
$197,600
+0.04% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,061
Average Annual Pay
$56,005
+5.0% YoY
Employment
132,596
+1.9% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3607
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.5%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Building Permits (2024)
1,758
Single-Family Permits
1,756

[05] Capital Investment

$630M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Solar Energy Farm Portfolio (3 sites)
Undisclosed Solar Energy Farm Developer
$180M Planned
New Housing Development (624 homes)
Undisclosed Developer
$150M Proposed
Nephron Nitrile Expansion
Nephron Nitrile
$100M Planned
Gunsight Solar, LLC
Gunsight Solar, LLC
$75M Operating
Allora Solar, LLC
Allora Solar, LLC
$75M Operating
FedEx Ground Distribution Facility
FedEx Ground / Scannell Properties
$50M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +4.8% 82 percentile
Population Growth +1.4% 81 percentile
Income Growth +8.6% 53 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.6% 87 percentile
Home Price Change +0.0% 31 percentile
Rent Growth +1.2% 23 percentile
Price/Rent 10x 86 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lexington County, SC a good place to move to?

Lexington County has a Boom Town Index score of 33/100, ranking #667 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.9% and a median household income of $71,280, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Lexington County affordable?

The median home value in Lexington County is $197,600 with median rent at $1,061/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3607, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Lexington County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +1.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.9%. Home values changed +0.0% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Lexington County?

Yes — 3.5% of Lexington County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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