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Lee County, NC
2 cities and towns and 3 ZIP codes in Lee County, North Carolina.
Population
65,816
Land area
255sq mi
People per sq mi
258
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Lee County
Lee County at a glance
- The median household income is $65,387, 10% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $240,200 (17% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,017 a month.
- Its largest cities are Sanford (31,478) and Broadway (1,657).
Local data for Lee County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools23
- Colleges1
- Libraries2
- Banks14
- Post Offices3
- Parks22
- Grocery Stores27
- Restaurants174
- Affordable Housing5
- Dialysis Centers2
- Community Health Centers3
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools3
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities7
- Historic Places10
Housing and community stats
Lee County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$65,387
Poverty rate
16.5%
Median home value
$240,200
Prices +6.2% in a year
Median rent
$1,017/mo
Homeownership
67.3%
Bachelor's or higher
21.3%
Median age
39.5
Average commute
25.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (8,530), German Americans (4,915), Irish Americans (4,601).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Aug 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$60,057
27,415 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,393
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$547M
FY 2026, $8,647 per person
PPP loans
$88M
1,217 loans, 11,720 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$774K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Lee County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.2%
- Carpooled9.6%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked2.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.3%
- Worked from home6.7%
Average one-way commute: 25.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Lee County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
304
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
126
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
90° / 31°F
46.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone10 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Lee County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.8%
U.S. 33.3% +4.5 pts
Diabetes
13.5%
U.S. 12.1% +1.4 pts
Smoking
15.5%
U.S. 12.8% +2.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
13.8%
U.S. 11.1% +2.7 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Lee County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Lee County, NC?
- Sanford is the largest city or town in Lee County, with about 31,478 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Lee County?
- Lee County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27330, 27332, 28355.
- What is the population of Lee County, NC?
- About 65,816 people live in Lee County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Lee County?
- Lee County borders Harnett County, Moore County, Chatham County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023