Elgin vs Lancaster
Elgin, South Carolina versus Lancaster, South Carolina: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Elgin edges out Lancaster on overall objective livability (45 vs 40 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Elgin | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $73k | $38k |
| Cost of Living | $50k | $50k |
| Home Value | $178k | $194k |
| Monthly Rent | $746 | $775 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $940 | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.45% | 0.58% |
| Income Tax | 6.40% | 6.40% |
| Sales Tax | 7.50% | 7.50% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.98% | 11.84% |
| Unemployment | 2.4% | 13.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 42°F | 42°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 80°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.8 in | 45.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5 in | 2.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 187 days | 187 days |
| Summer Humidity | 68°F | 68°F |
| Comfortable Days | 80 days | 80 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 69.2 | 71.6 |
| Air Quality | 41 AQI | 41 AQI |
| School Quality | 45.9 | 45.9 |
| Violent Crime | 1566/100k | 2985/100k |
| Property Crime | 1778/100k | 5762/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 2,882 | 8,592 |
| Median Age | 47.9 | 35.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.51 | 0.60 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.07 | 0.84 |
| Political Leaning | R+23 | R+23 |
| White (%) | 65.2% | 33.4% |
| Black (%) | 22.8% | 51.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 9.6% | 10.7% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 2.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 24 min |
| Walkability | 5.7/20 | 8.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 40 mi | 35 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.5% | 70.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 48.58 | 27.93 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Elgin or Lancaster more affordable?
- Lancaster has the lower cost of living: its index is $50k, compared with Elgin's $50k and Lancaster's $50k. Median rent is $746 in Elgin versus $775 in Lancaster.
- Is Elgin or Lancaster safer?
- Elgin has the lower violent crime rate. Elgin reports 1566/100k and Lancaster reports 2985/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Elgin or Lancaster?
- The median home value is $178k in Elgin and $194k in Lancaster, so homes are more affordable in Elgin.