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Living in
Lancaster.
About
Life in Lancaster
If you're considering a move to Lancaster, understand that you're looking at a sprawling desert city about 70 miles north of Los Angeles—far enough to feel separate from the basin, close enough for commuting if you have the patience. The median household income sits around $82,000, housing is relatively affordable at a median home value of roughly $447,000 and rent averaging $1,764 a month, which makes it accessible compared to LA proper, though you'll want to factor in a typical 31-minute commute if you're working elsewhere. The community is genuinely diverse and family-oriented, with about 41% of households raising kids and a median age of 33.
Lancaster at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.6%
Foreign-Born
15.4%
Broadband Internet
91.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lancaster: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lancaster, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (41.4%), and 29.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.7%
of residents
65 and Older
12.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.8%
of households
Married Couples
44.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.13
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Lancaster
In Lancaster, rent runs 13% below the CA average, and home values are 39% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,074
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $460,943 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.8 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Lancaster and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lancaster is 1.8 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lancaster Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute30.8 min avg
How Lancaster residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lancaster, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 36 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 54 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 133% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lancaster runs 133% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
767.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,626.9
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lancaster Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Los Angeles County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Los Angeles County, which includes Lancaster, the most common type is high wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | High Wind | $3,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | High Wind | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 21 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 2 | Wildfire | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Debris Flow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
187 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Lancaster is about 2% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality74 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Los Angeles County, which includes Lancaster, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
74
Good Days
39
per year
Moderate Days
228
per year
Unhealthy Days
32
per year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Lancaster is about 2% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate96°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lancaster has hot summers (avg high 96°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
96°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
6.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
109
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
68
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
28
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 31°F | 1.46" |
| Feb | 62°F | 35°F | 1.76" |
| Mar | 67°F | 40°F | 0.96" |
| Apr | 73°F | 45°F | 0.39" |
| May | 82°F | 53°F | 0.10" |
| Jun | 91°F | 62°F | 0.05" |
| Jul | 98°F | 67°F | 0.14" |
| Aug | 98°F | 65°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 91°F | 57°F | 0.12" |
| Oct | 80°F | 46°F | 0.34" |
| Nov | 67°F | 35°F | 0.37" |
| Dec | 58°F | 30°F | 1.11" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lancaster
Lancaster has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Antelope Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Palmdale Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.7 mi away · Palmdale
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education24.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lancaster
Lancaster's student/teacher ratio is 24.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 20.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
46
within city limits
Private Schools
13
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Lancaster
Antelope Valley Community College District
Public · 2-year · 11,534 students · in-state tuition $1,124 · 30% graduate · median earnings $39,944 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: César E. Chávez National Monument, 43 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lancaster
Lancaster has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being César E. Chávez National Monument (43 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
43 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
53 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
78 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lancaster
Lancaster Library
601 W. Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster
Cities Near Lancaster
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lancaster?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lancaster FAQ
Is Lancaster, California affordable?⌄
Lancaster's median rent is $1,764/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $81,511/year. Median home value is $446,600.
Is Lancaster, California safe?⌄
Lancaster's violent crime rate was 767 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1627 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lancaster, California?⌄
Lancaster has an unemployment rate of 7.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lancaster, California?⌄
The cost of living in Lancaster is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,764/month and median household income is $81,511/year. The median home value is $446,600. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lancaster, California?⌄
The average commute in Lancaster is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from