Population 31,586 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lancaster
Household size in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.73 | 2.41 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.66 | 2.39 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.33 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.33 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.36 | −0.08 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Lancaster is a place of small households, averaging 2.37 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.73 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
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 | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6 | 40.4 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.0 | 41.2 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.2 | 41.9 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.4 | 42.0 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.8 | +1.6 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.4, Lancaster is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.6, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the east.
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 | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 11.7% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 12.1% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 11.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 11.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −0.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Lancaster: 7.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.5% | 32.9% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.2% | 33.8% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 34.3% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 33.2% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +0.3 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lancaster is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (39.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.3 points, 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 | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 10.6% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 10.3% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 10.0% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 8.4% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.4% 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 0.7 points, mirroring the country.
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 | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1958 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1960 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Lancaster was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. Homes here are newer than in the Buffalo area overall, where the median home dates to 1960. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the west.
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 | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $779 | $728 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $736 | $783 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $937 | $873 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,215 | $1,126 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$436 | +$398 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lancaster pays $1,215 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are higher than in the Buffalo area as a whole ($1,126). Rent has climbed $436 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.2% | 27.6% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.3% | 29.6% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.2% | 32.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.4% | 35.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | +8.0 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Lancaster than nationally: 42.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the west.
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 | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.5% | 88.2% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.5% | 89.8% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.8% | 91.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 91.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lancaster: 95.4% 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 2.8 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 | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 8.0% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 5.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lancaster has been low: just 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 488 New York cities with 5,000+ people, only 43 have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | 2.37 | 46.4 | 7.4% | 18.2% | 5.4% | 1980 | $1,215 | 42.4% | 95.4% | 2.4% |
| DePew | 2.28 | 43.5 | 7.2% | 26.6% | 5.5% | 1968 | $1,090 | 30.6% | 93.1% | 3.1% |
| Bowmansville | 2.22 | 57.7 | 4.0% | 25.6% | 16.5% | 1995 | $2,070 | 31.5% | 91.1% | 4.7% |
| Town Line | 2.50 | 43.8 | 10.1% | 7.7% | 4.8% | 1972 | $969 | 30.9% | 94.6% | 1.8% |
| Elma | 2.57 | 44.3 | 7.3% | 12.2% | 4.8% | 1972 | $1,168 | 44.2% | 97.6% | 5.0% |
| Harris Hill | 2.37 | 41.3 | 4.5% | 22.4% | 6.9% | 1969 | $1,045 | 59.0% | 96.8% | 1.2% |
| Wende | 2.41 | 46.5 | 6.3% | 7.2% | 8.4% | 1982 | $1,709 | 39.4% | 94.0% | 5.8% |
| Cheektowaga | 2.20 | 41.6 | 9.8% | 29.1% | 6.0% | 1960 | $1,017 | 30.4% | 92.8% | 3.7% |
| Clarence | 2.36 | 53.0 | 4.7% | 19.7% | 7.0% | 1984 | $1,372 | 48.6% | 96.5% | 4.0% |
| Williamsville | 1.97 | 51.0 | 7.0% | 33.8% | 6.6% | 1953 | $1,339 | 58.4% | 95.3% | 2.5% |
| West Seneca | 2.27 | 44.5 | 8.8% | 23.2% | 6.6% | 1966 | $1,074 | 34.4% | 94.5% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Tewksbury, MA · Butte, MT · Chillum, MD · Christiansburg, VA · Coram, NY · Cornelius, NC · Crowley, TX · Elgin, SC · Fairmont, WV · Studio City, CA
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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