City · California
Lancaster, California
Lancaster, city, in Los Angeles County, California. Lancaster had 170,084 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 173,516 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 169,169 (±59). GEOID 0640130.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
170,084
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 173,516 · ACS 2020-2024: 169,169 ±59
Median household income
$81,511
±$3,094 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$446,600
±$6,728 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,764
±$45 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Lancaster and what county is it in?
Lancaster is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It covers 94.3 square miles of land, 1,840 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lancaster is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Lancaster, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 170,084 people lived in Lancaster on July 1, 2025, down 2.0% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 173,516 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 169,169 (±59).
| Measure | Lancaster | Los Angeles County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 169,169 ±59 | 9,808,667 | +10,141 |
| Households | 52,374 ±1,164 | 3,416,449 | +4,291 |
| Average household size | 3.13 ±0.07 | 2.81 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 55,273 ±1,052 | 3,650,466 | +2,978 |
Lancaster's population since 2000
From 118,718 in 2000 to 170,084 in 2025: up 43.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lancaster as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Lancaster?
The median resident of Lancaster is 34.5 years old; 26.7% are under 18 and 12.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 48.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 23.5%. 15.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lancaster | Los Angeles County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 ±0.8 | 38.2 | +1.9 |
| Under 18 years | 26.7% ±1.0 pts | 20.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.1% ±0.8 pts | 15.2% | – |
| Male | 50.0% ±0.9 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 48.2% ±1.8 pts | 48.4% | +6.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 23.5% ±1.3 pts | 24.7% | −6.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 19.1% ±1.3 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.1% ±0.7 pts | 14.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.1% ±0.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.4% ±1.0 pts | 33.4% | +4.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 34.8% ±1.9 pts | 55.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.1% ±0.6 pts | 2.7% | – |
| With a disability | 13.3% ±0.9 pts | 11.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.5% ±0.5 pts | 8.2% | −0.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.4% ±1.2 pts | 80.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.0% ±1.3 pts | 36.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.9% ±0.9 pts | 13.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.8% ±0.9 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.6% ±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Lancaster earn?
Half of Lancaster's 52,374 households earn less than $81,511 a year (±$3,094), against $90,112 in Los Angeles County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $67,980 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $13,531 after inflation. 15.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lancaster | Los Angeles County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $81,511 ±$3,094 | $90,112 | +$13,531 |
| Mean household income | $98,070 ±$3,094 | $128,770 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,046 ±$1,071 | $45,792 | +$3,583 |
| People below the poverty line | 15.6% ±1.4 pts | 13.7% | −6.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.3% ±3.0 pts | 17.6% | −8.0 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.9% ±1.5 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.8% ±0.8 pts | 96.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.6% ±1.1 pts | 93.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Lancaster?
Owners occupy 60.4% of Lancaster's occupied homes and renters 39.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $446,600 by its owner (±$6,728). The median renter pays $1,764 a month including utilities, and 51.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lancaster | Los Angeles County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $446,600 ±$6,728 | $834,200 | +$124,897 |
| Median gross rent | $1,764 ±$45 | $1,954 | +$269 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.4% ±3.2 pts | 48.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,245 ±$53 | $3,160 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.4% ±1.7 pts | 45.9% | +7.4 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 39.6% ±1.7 pts | 54.1% | – |
| Housing units | 55,273 ±1,052 | 3,650,466 | +2,978 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.6% ±1.5 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.0% ±1.5 pts | 47.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% ±0.9 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.4% ±0.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.7% ±0.6 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.0% ±0.9 pts | 8.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Lancaster building?
Builders took permits for 520 new housing units in Lancaster in 2025 (440 in single-family houses), 3.1 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Lancaster work and get to work?
72.1% of Lancaster's workers drive alone and 9.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.5%.
| Measure | Lancaster | Los Angeles County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.5% ±1.2 pts | 64.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.5% ±1.0 pts | 7.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.1% ±1.7 pts | 64.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.2% ±1.6 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.4% ±0.4 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.2% ±0.4 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.8% ±1.1 pts | 17.1% | +5.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.8 min ±1.1 | 30.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Lancaster?
38 census tracts lie mostly in Lancaster, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $26,735 (Tract 9008.06) to $208,125 (Tract 9102.11).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9005.01Los Angeles County | 7,504 | $84,149 |
| Tract 9010.12Los Angeles County | 6,764 | $131,250 |
| Tract 9005.04Los Angeles County | 6,568 | $90,175 |
| Tract 9008.05Los Angeles County | 5,852 | $98,750 |
| Tract 9010.10Los Angeles County | 5,564 | $87,232 |
| Tract 9010.09Los Angeles County | 5,457 | $99,801 |
| Tract 9006.02Los Angeles County | 5,367 | $55,550 |
| Tract 9006.09Los Angeles County | 5,262 | $72,070 |
| Tract 9012.14Los Angeles County | 5,187 | $119,641 |
| Tract 9010.14Los Angeles County | 5,184 | $116,615 |
| Tract 9008.08Los Angeles County | 5,162 | $83,297 |
| Tract 9005.06Los Angeles County | 5,116 | $91,359 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Lancaster) · Census block assignment files
How does Lancaster compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lancaster is the 159th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 31st-most populous of 483 in California.
Lancaster ranks 664th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 31st | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 256th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 612th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 664th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 759th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 703rd | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 554th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 262nd | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 713th | 988 |
| Median age | 817th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 665th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 621st | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 341st | 1,069 |
Lancaster's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Lancaster with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Lancaster?
Every figure for Lancaster on this page has a coefficient of variation under 40%, the Census Bureau's threshold for a usable estimate.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Lancaster are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Lancaster.