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Living in
Lancaster.
About
Life in Lancaster
Lancaster is a community of 10,127 people in New York. The median household income is $66,148, median rent runs about $969 per month, and median home values are around $202,200. Unemployment is low at 4.0%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Lancaster at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Foreign-Born
0.6%
Broadband Internet
88.0%
of households
Population Growth
-1.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics0.6% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in Lancaster: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lancaster, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (40.3%), and 0.5% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
17.8%
of residents
65 and Older
21.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.5%
of households
Married Couples
38.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.07
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 40% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Lancaster
In Lancaster, rent runs 40% below the NY average, and home values are 52% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,932
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1952
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Lancaster and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Erie County, which includes Lancaster, is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Lancaster: Erie County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Erie County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Lancaster is about 1% of Erie County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Lancaster Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY metro area
Commute18.9 min avg
How Lancaster residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lancaster, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Medium hub2.5M 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 86% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lancaster runs 86% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
45.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,081.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lancaster Town Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Erie County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Erie County, which includes Lancaster, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Lake-Effect Snow | $6,500 |
| 2024 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $46,300 |
| 2022 | 19 | Winter Storm | $45.7M |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.4M |
| 2020 | 42 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2019 | 29 | High Wind | $21.7M |
| 2018 | 22 | Winter Storm | $604,500 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Erie County, county-wide
Lancaster is about 1% of Erie County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Erie County, which includes Lancaster, is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
121
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Erie County, county-wide
Lancaster is about 1% of Erie County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lancaster has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.1"
Annual Snowfall
95.4"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
166
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 3.35" |
| Feb | 33°F | 20°F | 2.49" |
| Mar | 42°F | 26°F | 2.89" |
| Apr | 55°F | 37°F | 3.37" |
| May | 67°F | 48°F | 3.37" |
| Jun | 76°F | 58°F | 3.37" |
| Jul | 80°F | 63°F | 3.23" |
| Aug | 79°F | 62°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 72°F | 55°F | 4.10" |
| Oct | 60°F | 44°F | 4.03" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 3.50" |
| Dec | 37°F | 26°F | 3.75" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lancaster
Uninsured
1.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lancaster's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Western Ny Childrens Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 6.4 mi away · West Seneca
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.1 mi away · Buffalo
Upstate New York VA Healthcare System (western Ny VA Healthcare System)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 8.1 mi away · Buffalo
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.
Education11.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lancaster
Lancaster's student/teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lancaster (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 6,099 students · in-state tuition $6,100 · 33% graduate · median earnings $46,497 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,097 students · in-state tuition $8,533 · 47% graduate · median earnings $55,028 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,685 students · in-state tuition $35,880 · 68% graduate · median earnings $63,820 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,258 students · in-state tuition $35,980 · 70% graduate · median earnings $74,104 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 984 students · in-state tuition $21,480 · 60% graduate · median earnings $62,554 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo
10.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 743 students · in-state tuition $19,220 · 40% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (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: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lancaster
Lancaster has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayWomen's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lancaster
Lancaster Public Library
5466 Broadway, 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, New York affordable?⌄
Lancaster's median rent is $969/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,148/year. Median home value is $202,200.
Is Lancaster, New York safe?⌄
Lancaster's violent crime rate was 46 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1082 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lancaster, New York?⌄
Erie County, which includes Lancaster, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lancaster, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Lancaster is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $969/month and median household income is $66,148/year. The median home value is $202,200. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lancaster, New York?⌄
The average commute in Lancaster is 19 minutes, which is shorter than 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