How is the job market changing?
Total job counts over time show how employment opportunities are growing or shrinking in a community. Comparing across geographies reveals which areas are attracting the most new employment.
Jobs grouped into four broad sector categories show the economic composition of a community.
Job counts are derived from the LEHD LODES Workplace Area Characteristics (WAC) dataset published by the US Census Bureau.
How is the population changing?
Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.
The share of households with children indicates family housing demand, while the share with people over 65 reflects the growing need for senior-friendly and accessible housing options.
Population data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) annual estimates. Age cohort breakdowns use Census Bureau age groupings to show generational patterns in community growth.
Who is entering and leaving the workforce?
The share of people aged 20-34 indicates the pipeline of workers entering the labor force, while the share aged 65+ shows the pace of retirement. Comparing these trends reveals whether communities face a tightening or expanding labor supply.
Population data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates. Projections use CommunityScale's cohort-component population forecast model.
How affordable is this community?
This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.
| Geography | Home Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical | Affordable to median | Gap / Surplus | |
| Region | $351,403 | $433,957 | +$82,554 |
| York County, SC | $381,858 | $485,718 | +$103,860 |
| Lancaster County, SC | $379,087 | $400,426 | +$21,340 |
| Chester County, SC | $206,864 | $268,367 | +$61,503 |
| Union County, SC | $120,485 | $252,477 | +$131,993 |
Enter your household income and adjust assumptions to see what you could afford to buy in this community, compared to typical local prices. The calculator defaults to the current local median income, mortgage rate, and other financial assumptions factored into the housing affordability chart above.
Housing affordability data combines Zillow home value estimates with American Community Survey income data. Monthly costs include mortgage payments (at current rates), property taxes, insurance, and HOA fees where applicable.
How are households changing by income?
Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.
| AMI Group | Income Range | Households |
|---|---|---|
| <30% | <$30K | 30,082 |
| 30-60% | $30K - $61K | 25,212 |
| 60-80% | $61K - $81K | 35,272 |
| 80-100% | $81K - $102K | 19,163 |
| 100-120% | $102K - $122K | 16,248 |
| >120% | >$122K | 59,707 |
Household income distribution data comes from the American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS). Income groups are defined based on Area Median Income (AMI) thresholds from HUD.
How are household types changing?
This chart shows how household composition has changed over time, comparing the distribution of household types between 2015 and 2023. Changes in household types can indicate shifting demographics and evolving housing needs in a community.
Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.
Cost burden measures the share of household income spent on housing. Households paying more than 30% are considered cost burdened, while those paying more than 50% are severely cost burdened. Lower-income households typically face the highest rates of cost burden.
Household type data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Household types include family households (married couples, single parents) and non-family households (people living alone, unrelated roommates).
How much new housing is being permitted?
Annual building permits reflect the pipeline of new housing construction. Single family permits show detached home building activity, while multifamily permits (units in buildings with 2+ units) indicate apartment and townhome development. Together they reveal how a community's housing supply is growing and what types of housing are being added.
Cumulative change in jobs, households, and building permits since 2010 reveals whether housing construction is keeping pace with employment and population growth.
Building permit data comes from the US Census Building Permit Survey, 2010-2024. Permits are reported by county and by permit-issuing place.
What does the housing stock look like?
The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.
This chart shows rental and homeowner vacancy rates over time. A healthy rental vacancy rate is around 7.5%, and a healthy homeowner vacancy rate is around 1.5%. Rates well below these thresholds suggest a tight housing market with limited options for people looking to move.
Housing stock data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Structure types include single-family detached, townhomes, small multifamily (2-4 units), and larger apartment buildings.