City · Kentucky
Lancaster, Kentucky
Lancaster, city, in Garrard County, Kentucky. Lancaster had 4,111 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,899 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,013 (±23). GEOID 2143840.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,111
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,899 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,013 ±23
Median household income
$43,898
±$10,264 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$175,300
±$44,114 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$801
±$71 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
Where is Lancaster and what county is it in?
Lancaster is a city in Garrard County, Kentucky. It covers 2.5 square miles of land, 1,545 residents per square mile in 2020.
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 4,111 people lived in Lancaster on July 1, 2025, up 5.2% since 2020, faster than Kentucky (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 3,899 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,013 (±23).
| Measure | Lancaster | Garrard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,013 ±23 | 17,568 | +171 |
| Households | 1,494 ±119 | 6,695 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.62 ±0.21 | 2.61 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,642 ±158 | 7,280 | no clear change |
Lancaster's population since 2000
From 3,734 in 2000 to 4,111 in 2025: up 10.1%. 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 34.0 years old; 26.9% are under 18 and 17.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 8.3%.
| Measure | Lancaster | Garrard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 ±5.5 | 43.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 26.9% ±3.7 pts | 21.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.4% ±4.0 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Male | 44.8% ±4.5 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.1% ±4.1 pts | 3.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 80.6% ±5.6 pts | 91.6% | −7.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.3% ±2.4 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.9% ±1.9 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.9% ±1.8 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.9% ±2.5 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±3.2 pts | 8.3% | – |
| With a disability | 21.8% ±5.3 pts | 19.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.7% ±3.6 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.4% ±5.7 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.2% ±5.3 pts | 18.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.3% ±4.5 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.5% ±5.7 pts | 90.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
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 1,494 households earn less than $43,898 a year (±$10,264), against $63,087 in Garrard County and $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $39,280 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 29.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lancaster | Garrard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,898 ±$10,264 | $63,087 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $63,068 ±$14,973 | $78,527 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,631 ±$5,705 | $30,524 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 29.1% ±8.3 pts | 15.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 38.9% ±16.7 pts | 21.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.3% ±5.7 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.6% ±3.0 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.8% ±4.8 pts | 87.0% | – |
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 54.6% of Lancaster's occupied homes and renters 45.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $175,300 by its owner (±$44,114). The median renter pays $801 a month including utilities, and 54.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lancaster | Garrard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $175,300 ±$44,114 | $204,900 | +$62,445 |
| Median gross rent | $801 ±$71 | $794 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 54.4% ±15.7 pts | 45.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,332 ±$237 | $1,383 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.6% ±7.9 pts | 79.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 45.4% ±7.9 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Housing units | 1,642 ±158 | 7,280 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.3% ±7.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.2% ±6.1 pts | 79.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.2% ±2.3 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.9% ±2.0 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.5% ±5.5 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.0% ±5.0 pts | 4.7% | – |
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 0 new housing units in Lancaster in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.2 across Kentucky.
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?
79.7% of Lancaster's workers drive alone and 9.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 11.7%.
| Measure | Lancaster | Garrard County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.9% ±6.9 pts | 54.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.7% ±6.3 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.7% ±7.0 pts | 76.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.3% ±4.7 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.0% ±5.8 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.2 min ±4.1 | 33.1 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?
No census tract lies mostly in Lancaster; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9703Garrard County | 3,506 | $39,901 |
| Tract 9702.01Garrard County | 2,797 | $69,353 |
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 Kentucky?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lancaster is the 5,437th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 90th-most populous of 418 in Kentucky.
Lancaster ranks 174th of 230 places in Kentucky with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 90th | 418 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 38th | 204 |
| Residents per square mile | 68th | 232 |
| Median household income | 174th | 230 |
| Per capita income | 184th | 232 |
| Median home value | 107th | 225 |
| Median gross rent | 123rd | 217 |
| Poverty rate | 43rd | 203 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 185th | 223 |
| Median age | 191st | 232 |
| Owner-occupied share | 151st | 229 |
| Work from home | 94th | 130 |
| Travel time to work | 49th | 232 |
Lancaster's figures with every place in Kentucky (CSV)
Every place in Kentucky, 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?
15 of the 57 figures for Lancaster on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
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.