Population 169,873 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lancaster
Household size in Lancaster
| Period | Lancaster | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.55 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Lancaster run a little small, averaging 2.55 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Still, the typical household here is bigger than in Pennsylvania as a whole, where it has 2.46 people. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.47, even as the national average fell.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.5 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.4 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 39.4, the median age in Lancaster is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in Pennsylvania as a whole, where the median age is 42.0. The median age has crept up from 38.6 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Lancaster (12.0%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Pennsylvania as a whole (10.7%).
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.5% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.6% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.3% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Lancaster is about as common as it is nationally: 36.3% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Pennsylvania as a whole (30.7%). Among homeowners, 38.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.4 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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.3% 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 0.6 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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Lancaster is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1968, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, 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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $828 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $949 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,081 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,462 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$634 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lancaster costs $1,462 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Pennsylvania overall ($1,323). Rent has climbed $634 a month since 2006–10, up 77%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.5% 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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.5% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.8% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.9% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.4 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Lancaster than nationally: 38.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.4 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.1% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.4% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.1% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lancaster is close to the national rate: 90.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Pennsylvania overall (91.8%). The share with a diploma is up 6.1 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lancaster is close to the national rate: 5.2% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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 | 2.55 | 39.4 | 12.0% | 36.3% | 5.3% | 1968 | $1,462 | 38.9% | 90.2% | 5.2% |
| Millersville | 2.50 | 29.9 | 11.6% | 36.8% | 4.4% | 1973 | $1,513 | 45.2% | 95.8% | 4.6% |
| East Petersburg | 2.32 | 47.3 | 3.7% | 8.5% | 4.1% | 1970 | $1,348 | 35.3% | 93.0% | 2.5% |
| Willow Street | 2.41 | 49.9 | 3.9% | 47.3% | 9.6% | 1987 | $2,188 | 42.5% | 95.1% | 1.0% |
| Witmer | 4.26 | 31.8 | 12.4% | 16.1% | 14.4% | 1949 | $1,601 | 9.5% | 73.6% | 1.0% |
| Smoketown | 2.67 | 45.4 | 11.1% | 21.3% | 5.3% | 1966 | $1,308 | 21.2% | 78.3% | 7.2% |
| Mountville | 2.48 | 43.7 | 7.5% | 27.0% | 4.3% | 1988 | $1,496 | 37.1% | 93.6% | 3.3% |
| Lampeter | 2.86 | 37.0 | 4.7% | 18.7% | 6.9% | 1987 | $1,232 | 52.0% | 96.6% | 1.0% |
| Landisville | 2.44 | 51.8 | 5.4% | 12.8% | 2.0% | 1978 | $1,133 | 43.6% | 93.0% | 3.5% |
| Leola | 2.83 | 38.2 | 6.3% | 35.5% | 5.5% | 1978 | $1,437 | 32.7% | 79.5% | 3.5% |
| Lititz | 2.51 | 46.7 | 4.3% | 27.6% | 3.4% | 1984 | $1,462 | 43.3% | 91.9% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Fort Collins, CO · Florissant, MO · Flower Mound, TX · Flagstaff, AZ · Enterprise, NV · Everett, WA · Fort Pierce, FL · Fort Wayne, IN · Framingham, MA · Fort Myers, FL
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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