Lake City 66 Good
Lake City Livability #121 ranked city in South Carolina#12,098 ranked city in the USARanks better than 58% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Lake City

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Crime Crime

    High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.

  • Employment Employment

    The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.

  • Schools Schools

    Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Lake City?

Located in the state of South Carolina, Lake City is a small-sized city with a population of 6,803 residents. With a total of 73%, the Black or African American racial group makes up the majority of the population in Lake City. The next most represented races are 22% White and 0% Asian. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Lake City, only 35% of the population is married.

Without the right tools, moving to any new area can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Lake City, South Carolina could be a good experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. Finding the best places to live in Lake City and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, commute, employment, housing and other important metrics.

Using data and statistics Lake City has received a livability score of 66 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 62nd percentile when compared to all other cities. If we take a closer look at each of the categories on their own, we see that Lake City ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). There is at least one category that did not score well in Lake City. The following was graded with a discouraging score: crime (F), education (F) and employment (D).

The Lake City unemployment rate of 2.2% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Lake City has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Lake City is actually affordable. The median home price for Lake City homes is $154,525, which is 40.6% lower than the South Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Lake City, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.8, which is 26.3% lower than the South Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Lake City

See all the best places to live around Lake City

How Do You Rate The Livability In Lake City?

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Compare Lake City, SC Livability

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      Lake City transportation information

      Statistic Lake City South Carolina National
      Average one way commute22min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work75.3%82.8%76.4%
      Workers who carpool19.7%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.4%0.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.5%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home0.7%3.6%4.6%
      Source: The Lake City, SC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.