County profile · North Carolina
Lee County, NC market data
How Lee County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 70,258
- +10.8% since 2020
- Households
- 25,145
- Median household income
- $65,387
- +30.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $240,200
- Jobs located here
- 27,081
- Highest market score
- 75
- Chiropractors, #133 of 1,490 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Lee County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Lee County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Lee County has an estimated 70,258 people and 25,145 households. Population estimates show Lee County grew 10.8% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Lee County is $65,387, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 30.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Lee County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 143, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (61).
Of the business types scored in Lee County, chiropractors (75), gas stations (74) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (70) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For chiropractors, that ranks #133 of 1,490 scored counties.
Lee County is part of the Sanford area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for electricians (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for coffee shops and cafes (38% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Lee County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Lee County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiropractors | 75 | #133 of 1,490 | 6 | 2.4 | $4.3M | 179 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 74 | #305 of 2,358 | 36 | 14.3 | $2.3M | 96 | 28 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 70 | #245 of 1,461 | 10 | 4.0 | $2M | 80 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 70 | #477 of 2,272 | 38 | 15.1 | $1.9M | 148 | 27 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 66 | #404 of 2,063 | 17 | 6.8 | $5.1M | 136 | 12 |
| Spas and skin care | 65 | #375 of 1,769 | 18 | 7.2 | $1.1M | 131 | 3 |
| House cleaning | 64 | #174 of 847 | 6 | 2.4 | $5.7M | 89 | 10 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 61 | #234 of 887 | 8 | 3.2 | Index only | 114 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 60 | #550 of 1,889 | 19 | 7.6 | $4.5M | 109 | 12 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 58 | #577 of 1,707 | 15 | 6.0 | $4.4M | 93 | 23 |
| Pizza | 57 | #742 of 2,090 | 15 | 6.0 | $5.7M | 113 | 57 |
| Car washes and detailing | 56 | #574 of 1,451 | 11 | 4.4 | $2.3M | 91 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | 55 | #585 of 1,472 | 7 | 2.8 | $511K | 75 | 5 |
| Physical therapy | 55 | #596 of 1,422 | 13 | 5.2 | $2M | 82 | 6 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #966 of 2,200 | 33 | 13.1 | $614K | 70 | 14 |
| Veterinarians | 51 | #730 of 1,485 | 11 | 4.4 | $1.8M | 68 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 51 | #1,144 of 2,339 | 67 | 26.6 | $309K | 72 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 50 | #794 of 1,530 | 20 | 8.0 | $1.3M | 50 | 4 |
| Property management | 49 | #467 of 910 | 9 | 3.6 | Index only | 71 | 9 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 49 | #1,117 of 2,176 | 59 | 23.5 | Index only | 111 | 23 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 48 | #711 of 1,327 | 11 | 4.4 | $2.3M | 74 | 8 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 48 | #1,276 of 2,405 | 230 | 91.5 | $373K | 101 | 121 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 47 | #981 of 1,771 | 30 | 11.9 | $1.1M | 68 | 40 |
| Grocery stores | 47 | #1,120 of 2,070 | 19 | 7.6 | $7.6M | 82 | 15 |
| Convenience stores | 47 | #1,252 of 2,261 | 48 | 19.1 | $3M | 38 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 47 | #1,322 of 2,405 | 128 | 50.9 | $671K | 101 | 51 |
| Nail salons | 46 | #814 of 1,328 | 15 | 6.0 | $1.4M | 82 | 5 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 46 | #848 of 1,493 | 22 | 8.7 | $1.6M | 53 | 25 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 46 | #991 of 1,656 | 20 | 8.0 | $1.3M | 72 | 29 |
| Real estate | 45 | #1,356 of 2,229 | 77 | 30.6 | Index only | 107 | 45 |
| Auto repair and car care | 45 | #1,447 of 2,401 | 128 | 50.9 | $197K | 73 | 39 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 45 | #1,495 of 2,385 | 126 | 50.1 | $164K | 77 | 14 |
| Pet stores | 44 | #594 of 974 | 6 | 2.4 | $3.4M | 75 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 44 | #1,499 of 2,394 | 174 | 69.2 | $148K | 97 | 64 |
| Roofing and gutters | 43 | #752 of 1,177 | 13 | 5.2 | $5.1M | 61 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 43 | #876 of 1,334 | 15 | 6.0 | $1M | 50 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 43 | #1,311 of 2,087 | 44 | 17.5 | $981K | 77 | 18 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 43 | #1,398 of 2,210 | 62 | 24.7 | $696K | 79 | 18 |
| Auto repair shops | 43 | #1,540 of 2,378 | 87 | 34.6 | $289K | 65 | 27 |
| Home repair trades | 41 | #1,470 of 2,057 | 43 | 17.1 | $1.6M | 64 | 49 |
| Gyms | 40 | #1,248 of 1,792 | 18 | 7.2 | $843K | 65 | 8 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 40 | #1,292 of 1,886 | 28 | 11.1 | $920K | 94 | 21 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 40 | #1,618 of 2,402 | 80 | 31.8 | $1.8M | 53 | 21 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 39 | #1,544 of 2,222 | 39 | 15.5 | $2.2M | 72 | 57 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 38 | #1,570 of 2,088 | 35 | 13.9 | $434K | 65 | 12 |
| Child care and preschools | 37 | #1,172 of 1,611 | 18 | 7.2 | $517K | 52 | 18 |
| Barbershops | 34 | #1,042 of 1,356 | 22 | 8.7 | $940K | 50 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 31 | #983 of 1,160 | 15 | 6.0 | $4.4M | 37 | 26 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $14.4M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $8.6M | 274 | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $21.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $12.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $17.1M | Too few | 5 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $7.6M | Too few | 8 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | Index only | Too few | 4 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $25.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in Lee County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $25.2M | $1,001 | 104 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $82.2M | $3,267 | 126 |
| Food away from home | $85.9M | $3,414 | 84 |
| Groceries | $144M | $5,726 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $20.7M | $822 | 82 |
| Child care and other personal services | $9.3M | $370 | 64 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $15.2M | $604 | 61 |
| Medical and dental services | $25.8M | $1,024 | 80 |
| Pets | $20.2M | $805 | 89 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $43.1M | $1,716 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $70.6M | $2,807 | 143 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $66.7M | $2,652 | 88 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $34.2M | $1,361 | 96 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $355.7M | $14,145 | 85 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Lee County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 70,258+10.8% since 2020
- Households
- 25,145
- Median age
- 39.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 67%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 255 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 258
- Median household income
- $65,387+30.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $81,746
- Median home value
- $240,200
- Jobs located here
- 27,081
- Daytime population
- 64,849Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Lee County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Lee County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
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- Chatham County, NC80,151 people
- Moore County, NC104,876 people
- Cumberland County, NC338,545 people
- Hoke County, NC53,835 people
- Wake County, NC1,178,653 people
- Orange County, NC149,678 people
- Durham County, NC332,353 people
Questions
How fast is Lee County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Lee County at 70,258 people in 2025, up 10.8% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 25,145 households. Median household income rose 30.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Lee County, NC spend?
Households in Lee County spend about $355.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $144M on groceries and $85.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Lee County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 143, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (61).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Lee County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Lee County are for chiropractors (75), gas stations (74) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (70). Lee County ranks #133 of 1,490 scored counties for chiropractors.
How does Lee County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Lee County is $65,387 a year, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 10.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $240,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Lee County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for electricians (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for coffee shops and cafes (38% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 48 of the 56 business types have a score in Lee County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Lee County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Lee County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Lee County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.