City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Lancaster, PA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lancaster - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

57,683
Residents
$63,421
Median income
$203,700
Median home
$1,526
Median rent (state)

Lancaster - the verdict

Lancaster ranks in the 40th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

40th
percentile, household income
44th
percentile, home value
60th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lancaster, PA

57,683 people live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Lancaster brings in $63,421 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 17.7%. Typical homes in Lancaster are valued around $203,700, and the median resident age is 31.9 years. About 27.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 190 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 9999% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 53.3°F with 42.1 inches of precipitation per year.

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Pennsylvania at 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,526 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Pennsylvania run around $260, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 95.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

57,683 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$63,421 /yr

Poverty 17.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Lancaster compare to other US cities?

Here's how Lancaster stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 40% higher than other cities
Home value 44% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Lancaster's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Pennsylvania, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

40thIncome percentile

40th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lancaster's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$203,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 56% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lancaster $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lancaster, PA Lancaster, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lancaster, PA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lancaster, PA median $63,421/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lancaster, PA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lancaster, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
57,683
Median Income
$63,421
Median Home Value
$203,700
Median Age
31.9
Poverty Rate
17.7%
Labor force participation
62.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.1%

Climate

Avg Temperature
53.3°F
Annual Precipitation
42.1"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
37
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
57,000 residents57,500 residents58,000 residents58,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 57,875 residents 58,366 residents ▲ +0.8%
Lancaster's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
190
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
190
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 10
2021 4
2022 3
2023 562
2024 190

Permit volume increased 9999% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
62.0%
Carpool
10.7%
Public Transit
4.4%
Walk
10.9%
Work from Home
9.3%
Other
2.7%

Based on 28,460 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Pennsylvania - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lancaster sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,526/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Levittown
50,930 people
Harrisburg
50,092 people
York
44,830 people
Wilkes-Barre
44,217 people
Altoona
43,508 people
State College
40,669 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lancaster's 57,683 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Towson, MD
57,683 people
Bel Air South, MD
57,702 people
Decatur, AL
57,760 people
Bowie, MD
57,771 people
Casa Grande, AZ
57,590 people
Coconut Creek, FL
57,587 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lancaster's $63,421 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

North Lauderdale, FL
$63,423 median income
Florida, OH
$63,417 median income
Superior, WI
$63,415 median income
Holtville, CA
$63,438 median income
Clayton, IL
$63,438 median income
Roberts, IL
$63,438 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lancaster, PA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lancaster, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 47.5% 14.7% 17.4% 16.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 42.8% White 47.5% Black or African American 14.7% Asian 2.8% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.8% Some other race 17.4% Two or more races 16.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lancaster compares to nearby Pennsylvania cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lancaster (this city) 57,683 $63,421
Levittown 50,930 $101,619
Harrisburg 50,092 $47,783
York 44,830 $47,115
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lancaster, PA?

What is the population of Lancaster, PA? +

Lancaster, PA counts 57,683 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lancaster, PA? +

The median household income in Lancaster is $63,421 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lancaster? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lancaster; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Lancaster, PA? +

Homes in Lancaster carry a median value of $203,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Lancaster? +

The average annual temperature in Lancaster runs 53.3°F, 42.1 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.