Population 182,497 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lancaster
Household size in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.26 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.20 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.20 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.24 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Lancaster are large by national standards, averaging 3.24 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.9 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.0 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.1 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.1, Lancaster is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.4, in line with the national trend. Lancaster is younger than the great majority of California cities.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in six households in Lancaster (16.2%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lancaster
Renters in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 41.3% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.3% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.4% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Lancaster rent their homes (39.4%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a smaller share here than in the Los Angeles area overall (51.6%). About three in ten owners (30.3%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Lancaster: 6.3% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the Los Angeles area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.3 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Lancaster is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,268 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,260 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,294 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,916 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$647 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Lancaster runs $1,916 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the Los Angeles area overall ($2,279). Rent has climbed $647 a month since 2006–10, up 51%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 38.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lancaster
Bachelor's degrees in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.5% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Lancaster have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.5%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.3% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.5% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.8% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.6% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Lancaster never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. That is in line with the rest of the Los Angeles area. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Lancaster: 7.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.6 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lancaster compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | 3.24 | 35.1 | 16.2% | 39.4% | 6.3% | 1985 | $1,916 | 19.5% | 81.6% | 7.9% |
| Quartz Hill | 2.93 | 39.7 | 12.1% | 26.4% | 9.5% | 1979 | $1,907 | 21.3% | 85.3% | 6.5% |
| Palmdale | 3.61 | 34.1 | 19.0% | 34.2% | 5.2% | 1989 | $2,020 | 17.2% | 77.2% | 8.5% |
| Leona Valley | 2.56 | 47.4 | 5.5% | 6.2% | 19.8% | 1973 | $2,250 | 33.3% | 96.7% | 2.6% |
| Del Sur | 2.73 | 38.8 | 7.1% | 8.1% | 6.4% | 1987 | $2,041 | 28.3% | 92.6% | 8.8% |
| Sun Village | 3.56 | 37.4 | 14.5% | 30.3% | 5.2% | 1984 | $1,726 | 9.0% | 68.7% | 6.0% |
| Littlerock | 2.84 | 43.9 | 9.7% | 17.3% | 15.1% | 1979 | $1,523 | 15.1% | 83.0% | 4.7% |
| Lake Hughes | 2.83 | 39.5 | 13.9% | 11.4% | 13.7% | 1982 | $1,920 | 25.5% | 89.4% | 11.4% |
| Agua Dulce | 2.85 | 52.1 | 4.6% | 8.6% | 7.2% | 1979 | $2,354 | 23.1% | 89.3% | 9.4% |
| Lake Los Angeles | 3.78 | 32.1 | 15.1% | 25.9% | 9.2% | 1983 | $1,503 | 12.8% | 70.2% | 9.6% |
| Three Points | 2.29 | 48.6 | 7.6% | 24.6% | 23.9% | 1991 | $1,194 | 21.8% | 88.4% | 7.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Frisco, TX · Glendale, AZ · Garland, TX · Fullerton, CA · Gardena, CA · Garden Grove, CA · Greenville, NC · Fresno, CA · Gainesville, GA · Gaithersburg, MD
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lancaster. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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