Population 6,565 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lancaster
Household size in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.82 | 2.59 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.87 | 2.62 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.63 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.60 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.22 | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.60 people per household, Lancaster sits close to the national average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.82, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the northwest.
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 | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 39.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 39.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.2 | 40.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.4 | 41.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.8 | +2.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.4, Lancaster is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 38.6 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 10.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 11.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | +0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.8% of households in Lancaster, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 3.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.2% | 32.4% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.7% | 34.8% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.1% | 34.9% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 34.2% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.4 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lancaster is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 21.8% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 7.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 9.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 8.5% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 6.8% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 3.3% of homes in Lancaster are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.2 points, in line with the national trend. Lancaster has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Massachusetts cities.
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 | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1961 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1962 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1964 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1965 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +15 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Lancaster was built around 1979, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in the wider Worcester area, where the median home dates to 1965. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,067 | $930 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,019 | $1,008 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,152 | $1,155 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,205 | $1,549 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,137 | +$619 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lancaster costs $2,205 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,137 a month from 2006–10, a 107% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 37.8% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the east.
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 | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5% | 33.1% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.1% | 34.5% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.1% | 36.5% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.4% | 39.8% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.9 pts | +6.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Lancaster: 51.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 14.9 points, in line with the national trend.
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 | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.9% | 88.4% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.6% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.6% | 90.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.0% | 90.9% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +2.5 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lancaster: 97.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 8.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Lancaster: 8.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only six have higher unemployment. Unemployment has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 | 2.60 | 45.4 | 5.8% | 14.8% | 3.3% | 1979 | $2,205 | 51.4% | 97.0% | 8.7% |
| Ponakin Mill | 2.32 | 39.5 | 1.0% | 14.7% | 2.0% | 1978 | $2,344 | 47.0% | 88.7% | 1.7% |
| Clinton | 2.33 | 40.9 | 9.0% | 45.2% | 4.2% | 1957 | $1,635 | 36.5% | 91.6% | 5.7% |
| Sterling | 2.50 | 49.1 | 9.1% | 13.5% | 1.4% | 1981 | $1,750 | 48.3% | 92.6% | 3.9% |
| Bolton | 2.89 | 41.5 | 3.6% | 5.2% | 4.8% | 1986 | $1,480 | 82.0% | 99.9% | 5.3% |
| Still River | 2.75 | 46.1 | 3.4% | 9.4% | 14.3% | 1968 | $2,811 | 79.5% | 99.8% | 7.5% |
| South Bolton | 2.82 | 40.9 | 4.9% | 5.5% | 2.1% | 1983 | $1,895 | 84.6% | 99.8% | 7.3% |
| Harvard Station | 2.98 | 36.7 | 3.2% | 5.8% | 9.8% | 1965 | $2,712 | 80.9% | 97.3% | 9.0% |
| Berlin | 2.36 | 49.2 | 5.5% | 22.2% | 3.3% | 1991 | $2,374 | 50.2% | 97.5% | 4.5% |
| Leominster | 2.43 | 44.3 | 9.3% | 37.8% | 5.8% | 1969 | $1,311 | 33.9% | 90.1% | 6.5% |
| West Berlin | 2.41 | 48.5 | 5.0% | 24.1% | 2.8% | 1986 | $2,215 | 55.9% | 97.3% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Kildeer, IL · Kingston, GA · Kingsford, MI · Kings Point, NY · Kingfisher, OK · King City, OR · Kimberly, AL · Kiln, MS · Killingworth, CT · Kingston, OK
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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