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Living in
Lancaster.
About
Life in Lancaster
Lancaster offers suburban living with decent affordability for the Dallas area—median home values around $250,000 and median household income near $68,000—though you'll want to factor in that 30-minute average commute to most job centers. Schools are served primarily by Lancaster Independent School District with 11 campuses, and Cedar Valley College sits on the Lancaster-Dallas border for workforce training and community college options. Recreation is a real strength—170-acre Lancaster Community Park with a fishing lake, two nature preserves including the 189-acre Bear Creek Nature Park with equestrian trails, plus smaller neighborhood parks throughout give you legitimate outdoor access without driving far.
Lancaster at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.0%
Foreign-Born
8.1%
Broadband Internet
90.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.1% 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 (79.8%), and 20.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.1%
of residents
65 and Older
12.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.8%
of households
Married Couples
41.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
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 21% above TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Lancaster
In Lancaster, rent runs 21% above the TX average, and home values are 13% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
64.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,869
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $269,301 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts above TX average
Unemployment in Lancaster and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lancaster is 1.5 percentage points higher than the TX 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
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area
Commute28.7 min avg
How Lancaster residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lancaster, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Medium hub8.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 27 mi
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Major hub41.3M 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lancaster is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
344.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,098.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lancaster Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 36 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dallas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dallas County, which includes Lancaster, the most common type is hail, with 36 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | Flash Flood | $4.2M |
| 2024 | 34 | Flash Flood | $5.4M |
| 2023 | 33 | Hail | $2.4M |
| 2022 | 34 | Drought | $1351.6M |
| 2021 | 27 | Hail | $7.0M |
| 2020 | 24 | Hail | $95,000 |
| 2019 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1970.5M |
| 2018 | 18 | Flash Flood | $991,000 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dallas County, county-wide
Lancaster is about 2% of Dallas County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dallas County, which includes Lancaster, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
148
per year
Moderate Days
206
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Dallas County, county-wide
Lancaster is about 2% of Dallas County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate95°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lancaster has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
106
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
40
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
63
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 36°F | 2.96" |
| Feb | 62°F | 39°F | 3.08" |
| Mar | 69°F | 45°F | 4.00" |
| Apr | 77°F | 53°F | 3.85" |
| May | 84°F | 63°F | 4.34" |
| Jun | 92°F | 71°F | 3.95" |
| Jul | 96°F | 74°F | 1.98" |
| Aug | 97°F | 73°F | 2.81" |
| Sep | 90°F | 66°F | 2.69" |
| Oct | 80°F | 55°F | 4.86" |
| Nov | 67°F | 45°F | 2.84" |
| Dec | 59°F | 37°F | 3.51" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lancaster
Lancaster has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Crescent Medical Center Lancaster
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Hickory Trail Hospital
Psychiatric · 5.9 mi away · Desoto
Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital Llc
Psychiatric · 6.8 mi away · De Soto
Dallas VA Medical Center (va North Texas Healthcare System)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Dallas
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.
Education17.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lancaster
Lancaster's student/teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 25.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
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 · 43,869 students · in-state tuition $2,970 · 26% graduate · median earnings $44,572 (10 yrs after entry)
University of North Texas at Dallas
5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 2,878 students · in-state tuition $9,601 · 57% graduate
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,403 students · in-state tuition $41,870 · 55% graduate · median earnings $58,159 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,479 students · in-state tuition $26,324 · 33% graduate · median earnings $46,684 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 620 students · in-state tuition $16,248 · 30% graduate · median earnings $37,049 (10 yrs after entry)
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service
13.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 454 students · in-state tuition $17,640 · 73% graduate · median earnings $43,899 (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: Waco Mammoth National Monument, 72 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lancaster
Lancaster has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (72 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lancaster
Lancaster Veterans Memorial Library
1600 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, 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, Texas affordable?⌄
Lancaster's median rent is $1,704/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $68,302/year. Median home value is $246,300.
Is Lancaster, Texas safe?⌄
Lancaster's violent crime rate was 345 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2099 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lancaster, Texas?⌄
Lancaster has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lancaster, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Lancaster is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,704/month and median household income is $68,302/year. The median home value is $246,300. About 65% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lancaster, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Lancaster is 29 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