CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

34.12° N · 81.26° W · GEOID 4539475

Lake Murray of Richland

Richland County, South Carolina · part of the Columbia, SC metro

South CarolinaLake Murray of Richland, SCLake Murray of RichlandLake Murray of Richland

The short answer

Lake Murray of Richland is home to 7,023 people. Median household income is $119,107 a year and median rent is $1,944 a month, 19.6% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $422,100, about 3.5x annual median household income.

The story in Lake Murray of Richland is how fast things are changing. Housing became less affordable between 2019 and 2024: rent went from 16.2% to 19.6% of income. Also notable: Counting remote workers as zero, the average worker spends about 240 hours a year commuting, more than in 94% of places its size. It is the 2nd-highest of 90 South Carolina places we track.

35OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Below average

Lake Murray of Richland scores better than 35% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 47th of 101 in South Carolina.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%57
Economy 20%53
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%15
Education 10%84
Commute 10%4
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,944
42% above the median place
Median household income
$119,107
48% above the median place
Median home value
$422,100
32% above the median place
Unemployment
6.5%
32% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Lake Murray of Richland

  • HousingHalf the homes were built after 2004, newer housing than in 95% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track.
  • AffordabilityAfter the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $99,200 a year, more than in 78% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Lake Murray of Richland

Richland County gains about 3.1 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in24,754
Moved out23,811
Net+943

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within South Carolina, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within South CarolinaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$58K
Leavers$59K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Richland County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
12.3% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 6.0% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Richland County report $57,600 a year in income on average; those leaving, $58,600.
Income you would need
$77,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,944 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,040 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $422,100.
Getting to work
37 minutes each way on average; 16.0% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Tyrone, GA matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
6.0%
205% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
12.3%
114% above the median place
Income of households moving in7
$57,579
18% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureLake Murray of RichlandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure12.3%114% above
Moved from another state1County figure6.0%205% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure3.1above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$57,57918% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$58,56917% below
02

What it costs to live here

Owning with a mortgage costs only about $96 a month more than the median rent, a smaller gap than in 90% of the 2,469 places under 10,000 people we track.

Lake Murray of Richland19.6%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$77,760
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
19.6%
4% below the median place
Home price to income
3.5x
7% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
20%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$99,100
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Lake Murray of Richland, $1,944 a month, and local prices for everything else (96.6 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Lake Murray of Richland, but easier on the budget

Places that match Lake Murray of Richland on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Tyrone, GA8910.5% vs 19.6%$24,900Compare
Cottleville, MO8814.8% vs 19.6%$14,500Compare
Lake Norman of Catawba, NC8814.0% vs 19.6%$3,400Compare
Eldridge, IA8710.7% vs 19.6%$2,600Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Lake Murray of Richland.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Lake Murray of Richland? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median year built1
2004
1% above the median place
Homeownership1
82.7%
25% above the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
41.4%
18% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureLake Murray of RichlandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,94442% above
Rent to income119.6%4% below
Property tax rate10.7%27% below
Home price to income13.5x7% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure93.77% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,22624% below
HUD area median income4County figure$92,40014% below
Property tax paid (median)1$2,77415% below
Median home value1$422,10032% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure3.1%4% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure54.1%5% above
Homeownership182.7%25% above
Renters paying 30%+141.4%18% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,0409% above
Vacant homes1County figure10.5%48% above
Median year built120041% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Mean commute1
37 min
50% above the median place
Income per person1
$58,060
45% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureLake Murray of RichlandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$119,10748% above
Income per person1$58,06045% above
Unemployment1County figure6.5%32% above
Average annual pay6County figure$65,1251% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.7%0% above
Jobs6County figure229,38352% above
Poverty rate1County figure17.2%60% above
Mean commute137 min50% above
Works from home116.0%29% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Homes with broadband is 98.5%, 7% above the median place.

Homes with broadband1
98.5%
7% above the median place
High school or higher1
97.5%
6% above the median place
Median age1
46.5
19% above the median place
All 8 people measures
MeasureLake Murray of RichlandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population17,0235381st largest
Median age146.519% above
Bachelor's or higher154.8%71% above
High school or higher197.5%6% above
Household size12.43% below
Born abroad1County figure6.0%32% below
No health insurance1County figure8.7%36% above
Homes with broadband198.5%7% above
05

Life in Lake Murray of Richland

The nearest National Park Service site is Congaree National Park, about 36 miles away.

196 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 6 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents4.3 −58%
Playgrounds per 10k8.5 −9%
Grocery stores per 10k1.4 −33%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k8.5 −23%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Congaree National Park 36 miles
  • Ninety Six National Historic Site 44 miles
  • Kings Mountain National Military Park 71 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars20.1 −3%
Shops29.1 −4%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.4 −17%
Doctors' offices and clinics17.8 −12%
Child care centers2.0 −13%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
36.2
18% above the median place
Public schools12
102
above the median place (median 9)
Public school students12
60,410
above the median place (median 4,897)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureLake Murray of RichlandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure102above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure60,410above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure13.314% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure20.13% below
Shops per 10k8County figure29.14% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure3.417% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure17.812% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.013% below
Parks per 10k94.358% below
Playgrounds per 10k98.59% below
Grocery stores per 10k91.433% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k98.523% below
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1036.218% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1020% above
National Register listings11County figure196above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

July average high is 92°F, 6% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Lake Murray of Richland. Larger places are fetched first.

July average high13
92°F
6% above the median place
Hurricane risk14
94.4
34% above the median place
Average temperature13
64°F
16% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureLake Murray of RichlandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure92°F6% above
January average low13County figure34°F37% above
Average temperature13County figure64°F16% above
Annual precipitation13County figure45.5 in4% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure93.11% above
Hurricane risk14County figure94.434% above
Tornado risk14County figure95.017% above
Wildfire risk14County figure69.714% above
Heat wave risk14County figure94.75% above
Median air quality index15County figure479% above
Good air days15County figure58.1%15% below
08

Lake Murray of Richland in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 20% of the median income in 2030, up from 20% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Lake Murray of Richland does better than 57% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 5%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,944/mo (2024)$2,520/mo$2,070 to $3,070/mo+4.4%
Median household income$119,107 (2024)$149,500$126,500 to $177,000+3.9%
Median home value$422,100 (2024)$581,000$422,000 to $801,000+5.5%

The median home would be worth 3.9 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.5 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Lake Murray of Richland

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Wekiwa Springs, FL$1,974$116,596Compare
Chestnut Hill, PA$1,876$124,089Compare
Milford, CT$1,882$111,201Compare
Fleming Island, FL$1,935$116,611Compare
Fleming Island, FLMilford, CTChestnut Hill, PAWekiwa Springs, FLLake Murray of Richland, SCLake Murray of RichlandWekiwa SpringsChestnut HillMilfordFleming IslandLake Murray of RichlandWekiwa SpringsChestnut HillMilfordFleming Island

Places built like Lake Murray of Richland

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Lake Murray of Richland performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Lake Murray of Richland, SC19.6%2.5%/yrn/a
Viera East, FL21.8%4.6%/yrn/aCompare
Massanetta Springs, VA19.1%4.7%/yrn/aCompare
Viera West, FL24.0%9.8%/yrn/aCompare
Mills River, NC17.7%9.6%/yr5.4%Compare
Tyrone, GA10.5%5.5%/yr4.5%Compare
Fletcher, NC23.7%3.0%/yr5.3%Compare

Common questions

Is Lake Murray of Richland a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 35 out of 100, better than 35% of the places we rate and 47th of 101 in South Carolina. Half the homes were built after 2004, newer housing than in 95% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $99,200 a year, more than in 78% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Lake Murray of Richland expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 19.6% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $422,100.

What salary do you need to live in Lake Murray of Richland?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $77,760 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Lake Murray of Richland?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Wekiwa Springs, FL, Chestnut Hill, PA, Milford, CT and Fleming Island, FL.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Lake Murray of Richland with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Lake Murray of Richland itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/lake-murray-of-richland-south-carolina

Citytistics. “Lake Murray of Richland, South Carolina.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/lake-murray-of-richland-south-carolina/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.