HomeSouth CarolinaLexington County
Lexington County, South Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Lexington County, South Carolina had an estimated 313,774 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 293,912, across 699 square miles. County output reached $19.75 bn in 2024, 7,391 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 254 7(a) approvals worth $164.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lexington County
How many people live in Lexington County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024304,887
- Households121,964
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$77,408
- Median age39.8
- Median gross rent$1,178 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$234,500
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher34.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over211,803
- Population under 1870,033
- Share under 1823.0 percent
- Population 65 and over52,089
- Share 65 and over17.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64182,765
- Civilian labor force155,893
- Unemployment rate4.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.4 percent
- Rank by population among South Carolina counties6th of 46
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included237th of 3,222
Lexington County is the 6th largest of 46 South Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.0 percent against 17.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lexington County
Is Lexington County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024313,774
- Census 2020 base population293,912
- Population change since the 2020 census base6.76 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20243,897
- Births, 20243,318
- Deaths, 20243,125
- Natural change, 2024193
- Net domestic migration, 20242,433
- Net international migration, 20241,280
- Total net migration, 20243,713
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202415,413
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents319th of 3,144
The county has grown 6.76 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lexington County
Where are people moving to Lexington County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving9,488
- People arriving, from those returns17,638
- Tax returns filed by households leaving8,288
- Net household movement1,200
- Adjusted gross income arriving$619.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$83.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$65,254
- Average income of a leaving household$64,585
- Largest single originRichland County (3,106 households)
- Largest single destinationRichland County (2,795 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County | 3,106 | 5,504 | $178.0 m |
| Aiken County | 217 | 388 | $10.8 m |
| Greenville County | 169 | 274 | $9.4 m |
| Orangeburg County | 161 | 310 | $7.3 m |
| Newberry County | 148 | 264 | $8.3 m |
| Charleston County | 145 | 213 | $10.9 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 128 | 215 | $8.2 m |
| Saluda County | 120 | 233 | $5.5 m |
Households arriving report $669 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Richland County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Lexington County
What is the Lexington County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$19.75 bn
- County GDP, 2023$18.42 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.2 percent
- GDP change over five years37.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the South Carolina areas BEA publishes6th of 46
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes263rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$64,785
Output grew 7.2 percent in the latest year and 37.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Lexington County
Employment by industry in Lexington County
- Covered employment, annual average132,596
- Establishments reporting8,854
- Average annual pay$56,005
- Average weekly wage$1,077
- Retail trade, employment18,151
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,090
- Health care and social assistance, employment16,212
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$51,371
- Manufacturing, employment12,593
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$73,859
- Accommodation and food services, employment12,389
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,782
- Transportation and warehousing, employment9,454
- Construction, employment8,005
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 18,151 | 1,211 | $36,090 |
| Health care and social assistance | 16,212 | 809 | $51,371 |
| Manufacturing | 12,593 | 337 | $73,859 |
| Accommodation and food services | 12,389 | 691 | $21,782 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9,454 | 261 | $53,320 |
| Construction | 8,005 | 938 | $69,070 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 7,268 | 590 | $40,032 |
| Wholesale trade | 6,032 | 422 | $84,411 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 18,151 jobs, 13.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lexington County
How many businesses are in Lexington County?
- Establishments, all industries7,391
- Employment at those establishments117,298
- Annual payroll$5.81 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lexington County
Building permits in Lexington County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,758
- Declared construction value permitted$559.4 m
- Single family units authorized1,756
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units0.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$318,225
- Units authorized per 1,000 households14.4
Single-family homes are 99.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lexington County
SBA loans in Lexington County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded254
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$164.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$648,634
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$36,200
- 90th percentile approval$1,841,120
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,511
- Jobs per approval9.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active64
- Distinct industries receiving approvals118
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms49
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter182
- Franchise loans65
- Franchise share of approvals25.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (17)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (30)
- 504 approvals recorded64
- 504 gross approval dollars$49.1 m
- Average 504 approval$766,984
- Median 504 approval$501,500
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval15.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved20.2
- Most active CDCCertified Development Corporation of South Carolina (32)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$213.8 m
The average approval of $648,634 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 19.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lexington County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lexington County
Do SBA loans in Lexington County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded43
- Paid in full40
- Charged off3
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans7.0 percent
- Status: Paid in full40
- Status: Exempt from disclosure167
- Status: Cancelled30
- Status: Charged off3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed14
Of the 43 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lexington County
SBA lending by place in Lexington County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending12
- Lexington, approvals104
- West Columbia, approvals58
- Columbia, approvals42
- Chapin, approvals18
- Cayce, approvals7
- Irmo, approvals6
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington | 104 | $65,227,100 |
| West Columbia | 58 | $34,966,200 |
| Columbia | 42 | $37,938,700 |
| Chapin | 18 | $8,343,600 |
| Cayce | 7 | $3,281,100 |
| Irmo | 6 | $1,287,200 |
| Gaston | 5 | $2,535,000 |
| Batesburg | 4 | $2,170,700 |
| 4 other borrower cities | 10 | $9,003,500 |
Lexington accounts for 104 approvals against 58 in West Columbia. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lexington County
How large is Lexington County?
- Land area699 sq mi
- Rank by land area among South Carolina counties17th of 46
- Width, east to west37 mi
- Height, north to south37.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land436
- Establishments per square mile10.57
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lexington County
Flood risk in Lexington County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lexington County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 450129
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book15
- Of those, participating in the NFIP14
- NFIP participation rate93.3 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Lexington County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Lexington County (community 450129), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Lexington County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 93.3 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Lexington County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Lexington County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024304,887
- Households121,964
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$77,408
- Median age39.8
Common questions
Lexington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lexington County, South Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 313,774 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 304,887, in 121,964 households, ranking 6th of 46 South Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lexington County's population growing?
The population has grown 6.76 percent since the 2020 census base of 293,912, to 313,774 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,318 births against 3,125 deaths, with net migration of 3,713. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lexington County?
$77,408. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $234,500, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,178 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lexington County?
7,391 establishments, employing 117,298 people with an annual payroll of $5.81 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Lexington County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 18,151 jobs, 13.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 132,596 jobs at an average annual pay of $56,005, or $1,077 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lexington County?
254 7(a) approvals totaling $164.8 m since FY2020, across 64 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 64 504 approvals worth $49.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Lexington County get paid back?
Of the 43 loans that have reached a final outcome, 40 were paid in full and 3 charged off, a charge-off rate of 7.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Lexington County?
1,758 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $559.4 m. Multifamily was 0.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lexington County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Lexington County come from?
The largest single origin is Richland County, with 3,106 households. Arriving households report an average income of $65,254 against $64,585 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lexington County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Lexington County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Lexington County
Cities and places in Lexington.
20 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lexington County. All 20 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | town | 24,585 | 104 | Wholly in this county |
| West Columbia | city | 17,963 | 58 | Wholly in this county |
| Seven Oaks | CDP | 15,921 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cayce | city | 13,741 | 7 | 69.3 percent here, 30.7 percent Richland County |
| Oak Grove | CDP | 12,256 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Irmo | town | 11,813 | 6 | 27.5 percent here, 72.5 percent Richland County |
| Red Bank | CDP | 11,314 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| White Knoll | CDP | 8,310 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Batesburg-Leesville | town | 4,941 | None recorded | 87.2 percent here, 12.8 percent Saluda County |
| Springdale | town | 2,742 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pine Ridge | town | 2,596 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| South Congaree | town | 2,075 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gaston | town | 1,803 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Chapin | town | 1,394 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Edmund | CDP | 1,161 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pelion | town | 985 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gilbert | town | 751 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Swansea | town | 744 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Summit | town | 533 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairview Crossroads | CDP | 444 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 51 of the county's 254 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lexington County, the largest being Columbia (42), Batesburg (4), Leesville (4). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.