CountyScore

Lee County

South Carolina · SC

#7 in South Carolina
70.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Lee County, South Carolina

Lee scores in the top quartile nationwide

Lee County's composite score of 70.2 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 40%, placing it in the top quarter of U.S. counties. This strong performance reflects solid livability fundamentals.

Slightly above South Carolina's average

Lee's 70.2 score edges above the state average of 68.2, ranking it in the upper portion of South Carolina counties. It performs better than most peers statewide.

Housing affordability is exceptional

Lee stands out for affordability with a cost score of 86.6, median home value of $101,900, and median rent of just $806—the lowest housing costs in this group. Tax efficiency (86.3) is also strong.

Income and health need improvement

Lee's income score of 12.2 with median household income of $44,145 is the weakest dimension, while health outcomes (53.6) and risk (64.0) lag as well. These represent areas where the county trails peers.

Perfect for retirees and cost-conscious households

Lee suits older adults, fixed-income households, and anyone prioritizing maximum affordability and minimal housing expenses. Its exceptional home values and rental costs make it ideal for those stretching limited budgets.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax86.3Cost86.6SafetyComing SoonHealth53.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome12.2Risk64WaterComing Soon
🏛86.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠86.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼12.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤53.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡64
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Lee County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Lafayette County
Arkansas
70.2
Median income: $37,237
Quitman County
Georgia
70.2
Median income: $36,838
Mahaska County
Iowa
70.2
Median income: $69,019
Jessamine County
Kentucky
70.2
Median income: $74,886
Lawrence County
Kentucky
70.2
Median income: $45,584

Deep Dives

Lee County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Lee County

via TaxByCounty

Lee's rate slightly above national median

Lee County's effective tax rate of 0.568% sits slightly below the national median of 0.71%, placing it around the 40th percentile nationally. Median property taxes of just $579 represent only 22% of the national median of $2,690, reflecting Lee's very modest median home value of $101,900.

Lee ranks above South Carolina average

Lee County's effective rate of 0.568% sits above South Carolina's average of 0.542%, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the state's 46 counties. Despite this elevated rate, the median property tax of $579 remains one of the state's lowest due to Lee's affordable home values.

Lee's rate higher than most nearby counties

Lee's 0.568% rate exceeds Sumter (0.520%), Clarendon (0.545%), and Kershaw (0.488%), making it one of the region's steeper-taxing counties. The median tax of $579 stays low only because Lee's homes are significantly less valuable than those in neighboring areas.

Median Lee home costs $579 yearly

On Lee's median home value of $101,900 and effective rate of 0.568%, homeowners pay approximately $579 per year in property taxes. With a mortgage, the effective bill rises to $781, remaining quite affordable despite Lee's above-average tax rate.

Appeal potential exists despite low values

Lee County homeowners should not assume low overall tax bills mean accurate assessments; overassessment affects all price ranges equally. Request your assessment details from the county and compare them to comparable home sales to identify any overvaluation worth appealing.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Lee County

via CostByCounty

Lee County stretches modest incomes thinly

Lee County renters spend 21.9% of their $44,145 median income on housing—the lowest income in this dataset, yet a rent-to-income ratio that exceeds the state average. At just $806 monthly, Lee's rents are affordable in absolute terms, but incomes here are too low for residents to keep pace with regional peers.

Affordable rents can't offset wage gaps

Lee's 21.9% rent-to-income ratio sits above South Carolina's 20.1% state average despite the lowest rents in this entire county group at $806 monthly. The challenge: local incomes are roughly $30,000 below the state median, making even cheap housing difficult to afford on local wages alone.

Competitive rents, but lowest wages regionally

Lee's $806 rent rivals Hampton ($815) as the region's most affordable, undercutting Laurens ($847) and Kershaw ($872) by small margins. However, Lee's $44,145 median income is the lowest here by far, making the county a rental market for those with outside income sources.

Ownership unaffordable despite low home prices

Lee homeowners pay $479 monthly—the lowest ownership cost in this dataset—yet the median home value of $101,900 remains difficult to finance on a $44,145 local income. The low ownership cost reflects modest property values, not affordability, given the severe income constraints.

Lee works only for remote-income relocators

If you're bringing substantial remote work income to Lee County, you'll find unbeatable housing bargains and genuine savings potential. However, if you'll depend on local employment, proceed carefully—Lee's median income is among South Carolina's lowest, signaling limited economic opportunity.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Lee County

via IncomeByCounty

Lee County faces steepest income challenges

Lee County's median household income of $44,145 falls 41% below the national median of $74,755, making it among America's lowest-income counties. The county's per capita income of $24,133 ranks substantially below national averages, reflecting deep structural economic challenges.

Lee ranks lowest in South Carolina earnings

Lee County's median household income of $44,145 trails South Carolina's state average of $57,006 by 23%, ranking it among the state's poorest counties. The county's per capita income of $24,133 falls 25% below the state average of $32,382, indicating severe income concentration and limited employment opportunities.

Lee ties Hampton as region's lowest earner

Lee's $44,145 median income virtually ties Hampton County ($43,059) as the region's lowest earner, dramatically trailing peers like Laurens ($55,517), Horry ($64,623), and top performers Lancaster ($74,751). Lee and Hampton represent outlier low-income communities surrounded by comparatively stronger county economies.

Lee households balance tight budget pressures

A rent-to-income ratio of 21.9% means Lee renters dedicate nearly a quarter of earnings to housing, approaching the stress threshold for budget-constrained families. With median home values at $101,900, homeownership offers escape from rental pressures, but families must build substantial down payments on modest incomes.

Lee residents deserve financial opportunity

Despite economic headwinds, Lee residents can access federal and state programs supporting down payments, small business development, and job training that build long-term earning potential. Community development financial institutions, workforce boards, and nonprofit credit counselors provide pathways to financial stability and modest wealth accumulation.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Lee County

via HealthByCounty

Lee faces serious health disparities

At 68.8 years, Lee County residents live 7.3 years less than the U.S. average of 76.1 years—the lowest life expectancy among compared counties. A troubling 27.6% report poor or fair health, far exceeding the national rate of 16% and indicating widespread chronic illness and poverty-related disease.

Lowest life expectancy in South Carolina

Lee County ranks dead last among South Carolina counties for life expectancy at 68.8 years, trailing the state average of 72.5 by 3.7 years. The 27.6% poor/fair health rate is the worst statewide, reflecting concentrated poverty, limited access to care, and preventable disease burden.

Critical gap versus all regional peers

Lee's 68.8-year life expectancy lags every compared county: Hampton (70.3), Laurens (71.5), and all others, by 1.5 to 6.5 years. With just 12 primary care providers per 100,000—the lowest statewide—Lee residents face severe doctor shortages that force them to travel 30+ miles for routine care.

Extreme healthcare access crisis

Lee's 11.4% uninsured rate masks a deeper crisis: with only 12 primary care providers per 100,000, insured and uninsured alike cannot find doctors. Mental health capacity (119 per 100,000) exists on paper but cannot meet demand in a county where poverty, diabetes, and heart disease run rampant.

You deserve health care—get insured today

If you're uninsured in Lee County, your risk of medical disaster is acute; enroll in Medicaid or marketplace coverage immediately through scdhhs.gov or healthcare.gov. Once covered, navigate to a community health center for affordable, ongoing care that can begin to reverse years of untreated illness.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Lee County

via RiskByCounty

Lee County has the lowest risk nationally

Lee County's composite risk score of 35.97 places it far below the national average with a Very Low rating. Your county faces significantly fewer natural disaster threats than typical American counties.

South Carolina's safest county

Lee County scores 34.78 points below South Carolina's average of 70.75, making it the lowest-risk county in the entire state. Among 46 South Carolina counties, Lee stands alone as exceptionally protected from natural hazards.

Safer than all surrounding counties

Kershaw County (66.67) and Sumter County (measured separately) both face significantly higher risk than Lee. Lee's central location and inland position combine to create the state's lowest overall disaster exposure.

Hurricanes and tornadoes are primary concerns

Hurricane risk (85.23) and tornado risk (60.05) represent Lee's top hazards, though both remain moderate. Flood risk (19.43) is exceptionally low, giving Lee a major advantage among South Carolina counties.

Standard homeowners insurance typically sufficient

Lee County's low-risk profile means standard homeowners insurance often provides adequate protection for most properties. Review your wind coverage for hurricane/tornado protection, and confirm your deductibles align with your home's value.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.