Scots-Irish and English settlers founded the city of Lancaster and named it after the House of Lancaster, a royal family in England that fought in the 15th-century War of the Roses. Today, this Lancaster County city is nicknamed “Red Rose City” in reference to the House of Lancaster’s rose-themed coat of arms. Textile mills caused an economic rise, but the city’s industry shifted when the mills closed. Lancaster continues on an upward trend with a refreshed downtown, new houses and a growing population. According to World Population Review, the population grew over 9% from 2020 to 2024, and over 9,000 residents call Lancaster home today.
“The market has been very steady,” says Jan Carlisle, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Paracle who has over 10 years of experience. “People move here from all over the country, and they think they want to move to Charlotte, but then they see how expensive it is. I always suggest Lancaster if their price point is $250,000 and below.” Carlisle says the friendly prices and growing downtown scene create major draws.
The Lancaster population grew over 9% from 2020 to 2024.
The city of Lancaster was named after the English royal House of Lancaster.
After the Civil War, Lancaster’s first economic boom came through its textile mills.
Lancaster is nicknamed "Red Rose City" after the House of Lancaster's coat of arms.
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From textile mills to manufacturing and retail
After the Civil War, local Colonel Leroy Springs founded Springs Cotton Mill, leading to an economic boom in the textile industry. The mills closed in 2007, and the city’s leading industry shifted to manufacturing, retail and medical services. MUSC Lancaster Medical Center has over 600 employees, while Nutramax Laboratories, headquartered on Quality Drive, has more than 500 workers. The Lancaster County School District and county government also employ a large portion of residents.
Locally owned stores and restaurants line Main Street in the downtown area, which is getting an upgrade as part of Lancaster’s 2020 Downtown Revitalization Plan. The Lancaster County Society for Historical Preservation freshened up historic homes near the Cultural Arts Center in 2024 with new roofs and added new Craftsman homes on the infill lots to complete the street. The county’s first library and jail will be repaired and turned into a county archive and visitor center, respectively. The plan aims to add a city park, a multiuse path along Gay Street for festivals and more city amenities for current and incoming residents.
The MUSC Lancaster Medical Center has over 600 employees.
The headquarters of Nutramax are located in Lancaster.
Lancaster's leading industry has shifted from textiles to manufacturing.
The Lancaster county government employs a large portion of the residents.
The median home price for Lancaster is $304,999, lower than the $416,700 national median reported by the National Association of Realtors. Overall, prices reach into the mid $100,000s and the high $300,000s. “I think people are moving to Lancaster because Indian Land, Fort Mill and Waxhaw get to be very expensive, like in the $400,00s and $500,000s,” Carlisle says. “Lancaster is in the $200,000s. That’s why it’s so popular because you can get a pretty nice house for half the price.” Most homes feature Craftsman and ranch-style designs. Bungalows primarily surround the downtown area, but neighborhoods like Lancaster Mill and Basildon are filled with Craftsman homes. Homes built as recently as 2024 fill areas like College Place and are some of the most expensive in the city. Lancaster sees hot and humid summers, though winters are often mild with limited snowfall.
Newer Craftsman style homes are some of the most expensive in Lancaster.
You can find remodeled Craftsman style homes in Lancaster.
Ranch style homes are also an popular option in Lancaster.
Most of downtown Lancaster is surrounded by bungalow style homes.
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Small city parks with popular destinations nearby
Lancaster features 15 parks within city limits, including Red Rose Park on Main Street, with its paved walking paths and benches near garden installations. Lindsay Pettus Greenway has 2 miles of trails for biking, walking and hiking, and the trails are dotted with educational environment signs, tunnels decorated with public art and brochure stations. Although the greenspaces are small, residents have a short drive north to Andrew Jackson State Park and the Lancaster Motor Speedway.
According to Crime Grade, Lancaster’s crime rate of 33.86 per 1,000 people is slightly lower than the national average. The Lancaster Police Department received 300 violent crime reports and 531 nonviolent reports in 2023. Areas in the west see less activity than the east, particularly around downtown.
You can hike the 1 mile loop trail at Andrew Jackson State Park in Indian Land.
You can enjoy a walk along the 2 mile Lindsay Pettus Greenway in Lancaster.
The Lancaster Motor Speedway offers car races throughout the summer.
The Red Rose Park on Main Street is a great park to sit and enjoy the gardens.
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Downtown's Red Rose Festival and retail scene
The Cultural Arts Center fills a historic building originally used by First Presbyterian Church in 1862. The restored red brick building is now the site of music festivals, intimate concerts and orchestra performances. See Lancaster organizes events throughout the year, but the Red Rose Festival is the most popular. For two days every May, residents fill downtown Main Street to hear live music, shop craft vendors and enter the Red Rose Photography Contest. “Downtown Lancaster has a really vibrant art community now,” Carlisle says. “They always seem to have art events going on because I’m always getting emails from the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. They’re bringing a lot of city amenities to Lancaster.”
Locally owned restaurants line South Main Street downtown, and more chain restaurants surround the state Route 9 Bypass. Punkys On Main and Daily Grind Coffee Bar sit near Elliott’s Shoe Services and The Shops On Main antique store. There are community staples outside of downtown, like Grinder’s Restaurant and Jomars Family Restaurant. Biscuitville will open a new location in Lancaster in October 2024. “It’s been wild to see all the growth along the 521 corridor,” Carlisle says. “All these chains are coming to Lancaster, like Biscuitville. And Lancaster County is getting a Costco.”
Head to The Shops on Main to go hunting for unique antiques.
You can find new chain restaurants like Biscuitville just north of downtown Lancaster.
Lancaster is full of community staples like Grinder's Restaurant.
Many of Lancaster's locally owned restaurants like 521 BBQ can be found on Main Street.
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Taking Route 521 to Charlotte
U.S. Route 521 cuts through the city’s center and runs 47 miles north to Charlotte, North Carolina. “A lot of people are working remotely now, no matter where they live,” Carlisle says. “So that’s been really good because they don’t have to worry about a commute. Or some people are doing a hybrid schedule and only go into Charlotte for a meeting.”
The closest commercial airport is the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, about 46 miles north in Charlotte, or about an hour's drive. The Lancaster County Council on Aging organizes the as-needed Lancaster Area Ride Service. Rides must be booked three days in advance, and trips within Lancaster County cost $5 each way.
The Pew Research Center reports 78% of South Carolinians identify as Christians, with most attending Baptist churches. This shows in Lancaster, as the city has dozens of churches but no masjids or synagogues. Second Baptist Church was organized in 1897, and services were held in a schoolhouse. The current congregation meets in the current structure, built in 1979.
Schools in the city and greater county area
Lancaster County School District serves the community with 22 schools. The city of Lancaster holds North Elementary School, rated B by Niche, and Lancaster High School, which earns a C-plus. Indian Land High School ranks as the district’s most popular high school. The county built a new campus off Route 521 that opened in 2021. It gets a B-plus and is 13 miles from downtown Lancaster.
University of South Carolina Lancaster, a two-year institution, celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2024. The university runs the Native American Studies Center, the only center in South Carolina dedicated to telling the culture and history of Native Americans. The Gregory Family YMCA is also an on-campus facility open to students and the public. Niche ranks USCL as the top community college in South College and gives it an A-minus.
North Elementary School provides education in the neighborhood of
Lancaster County.
The Indian Land High School Campus in Indian Land, SC.
Lancaster High School provides education in the neighborhood of
Lancaster.
The University of South Carolina Lancaster, celebrated its 65th anniversary.
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Written By
Rylee Doyle
Photography Contributed By
Ryan Gwilliam
Video By
Tyler Newbold
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Lancaster, SC sell after 50 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Lancaster, SC over the last 12 months is $309,995, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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