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Living in
Lancaster.
About
Life in Lancaster
Lancaster offers an affordable, walkable urban core with a strong cultural identity—but go in with clear eyes about what living here actually means. Median rent sits around $1,240 monthly and median home values near $220,000, making it genuinely affordable compared to nearby metros, though the city itself experienced slight population decline recently. The job market is stable with 4.1% unemployment and a diverse economic base in healthcare, manufacturing, and services; your 23-minute average commute is reasonable.
Lancaster at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.3%
Foreign-Born
13.4%
Broadband Internet
90.3%
of households
Population Growth
+0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.4% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Lancaster: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lancaster, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (25.8%), and 26.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
10.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.5%
of households
Married Couples
32.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
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 about average for PA
Rent, home values, and income in Lancaster
In Lancaster, home values are 14% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,404
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
4.7%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for PA
Unemployment in Lancaster
Unemployment in Lancaster is close to the PA 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
Commute23.6 min avg
How Lancaster residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lancaster, most residents drive alone to work (60%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Lancaster Airport (LNS)
Regional airport · few flights19k passengers boarded in 2025
- 57 mi
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Major hub14.8M 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 14% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lancaster runs 14% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
373.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,379.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lancaster Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 47 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lancaster County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lancaster County, which includes Lancaster, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 47 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | $245,500 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $68,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $253,000 |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $414,000 |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $145,000 |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $93,000 |
| 2019 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $235,000 |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $89,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lancaster County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lancaster County, which includes Lancaster, is typically good — 221 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
221
per year
Moderate Days
142
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Lancaster County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lancaster has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.2"
Annual Snowfall
21.4"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
111
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 3.01" |
| Feb | 43°F | 24°F | 2.52" |
| Mar | 52°F | 31°F | 3.50" |
| Apr | 65°F | 41°F | 3.54" |
| May | 75°F | 50°F | 3.65" |
| Jun | 83°F | 60°F | 4.09" |
| Jul | 87°F | 65°F | 4.51" |
| Aug | 85°F | 63°F | 3.60" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 4.82" |
| Oct | 66°F | 44°F | 4.18" |
| Nov | 55°F | 34°F | 3.26" |
| Dec | 44°F | 27°F | 3.47" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lancaster
Lancaster has 2 hospitals, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
7.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Lancaster General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Lancaster
Upmc Lititz
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.3 mi away · Lititz
Wellspan Ephrata Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.7 mi away · Ephrata
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lancaster
Lancaster's student/teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Lancaster
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,799 students · in-state tuition $73,210 · 86% graduate · median earnings $81,484 (10 yrs after entry)
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Public · 2-year · 1,446 students · in-state tuition $9,050 · 62% graduate · median earnings $56,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 400 students · in-state tuition $33,309 · 61% graduate · median earnings $36,746 (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: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lancaster
Lancaster has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Appalachian National Scenic Trail (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
26 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
30 mi awayFirst State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
42 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
45 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
46 mi awayCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
48 mi awayGettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
52 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
54 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lancaster
Lancaster Public Library
151 North Queen St, 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, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Lancaster's median rent is $1,240/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $63,690/year. Median home value is $219,500.
Is Lancaster, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Lancaster's violent crime rate was 374 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1380 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?⌄
Lancaster has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Lancaster is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,240/month and median household income is $63,690/year. The median home value is $219,500. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Lancaster is 24 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