Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Among the top 12% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 25% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 3% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade A, better than 87% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 88% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 59% of US places
- top 7% for school quality
- top 12% for walkability
- bottom 1% for air quality
Lancaster is a mid-size city in Pennsylvania with about 58,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and F for weather. Standout strengths include school quality, walkability, and violent crime. It rates lower on sunny days and air quality.
Official websitecityoflancasterpa.com (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
very cold
cold
cool
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warm
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warm
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cold
v.cold
60%47%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.1 in3.0 in
humid 74%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$61k48th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$48kbetter than 41% of US places
Home Value$180k56th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 34% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 46% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.82%better than 14% of US places
Income Tax4.95%better than 51% of US places
State 3.10% + Local 1.85%
Sales Tax6.34%better than 77% of US places
Estimated total tax burden12.40%better than 27% of US places
Unemployment7.4%better than 23% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)31°F46th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)76°F51st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation44.1 in57th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall21.4 inbetter than 44% of US places
Sunny Days183 daysbetter than 11% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 42% of US places
Comfortable Days73 daysbetter than 28% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk46.3better than 75% of US places
Air Quality58 AQIbetter than 1% of US places
School Quality100.0better than 93% of US places
Violent Crime63/100kbetter than 86% of US places
Property Crime190/100kbetter than 82% of US places
Community
Population57,97098th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age31.812th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.6697th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9133rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+1642nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)38.9%13th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)14.1%87th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)39.4%93rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)2.7%84th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.0%70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time23 minbetter than 69% of US places
Walkability10.6/20better than 88% of US places
Airport Distance57 mibetter than 63% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access87.2%better than 54% of US places
Amenities Nearby53.82better than 41% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 73% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Lancaster an affordable place to live?
- Lancaster is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $48k, better than 41% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Lancaster?
- The median home value in Lancaster is $180k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Lancaster?
- Median household income in Lancaster is $61k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Lancaster?
- Median gross rent in Lancaster is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Lancaster safe?
- Lancaster is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 63/100k (better than 86%). Property crime is 190/100k.
- What is the weather like in Lancaster?
- Lancaster averages 76°F in July and 31°F in January, with 44.1 in of annual precipitation and about 183 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Lancaster?
- Public-school quality in Lancaster is above average, scoring better than 93% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Lancaster?
- The average one-way commute in Lancaster is 23 min.
Places near Lancaster
Compare Lancaster
Explore Pennsylvania
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)