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METRO AREA

Lancaster Metro

Lancaster, PA · 1 counties · 563,159 residents (2025 est.) · 943.924 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#42Most densely populatedof 925597#45Lowest poverty rateof 9258.2%
The short version

Lancaster has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $86,959. Population has grown 19% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $301,100. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
557,931
+19%since 2000
from 470,658 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
591 / sq mi
+19%since 2000
from 499 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.4
+9%since 2000
from 36.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:563,159 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
409K450K490K531K571K1990201020202024Lancaster
2024558K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$86,959
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,507 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,128
+111%since 2000
from $20,398 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
57.4%
+25.0 ptssince 2009
from 32.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.430
+4%since 2010
from 0.415 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$301,100
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $118,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,357
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $572 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 70.8% in 2000
30.2% rent
Vacancy rate
3.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 41.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
+33%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
68
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lancaster on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(420,366)
Black2.5%(11,837)
Hispanic / Latino5.7%(26,742)
Asian1.4%(6,723)
Other0%
Diversity Score22.6%(106,458)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.1%(441,484)
Black3.4%(19,142)
Hispanic / Latino11.5%(64,326)
Asian2.4%(13,414)
Other3.5%(19,565)
Diversity Score44.7%(249,385)
Segregation Score38.9%(217,236)
Diversity Score
45
+98%since 2000
from 23 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
39
−12%since 2020
from 44 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.4%
+11.9 ptssince 2000
from 20.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.5%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.8%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+68%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.8%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.6%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 67.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.6%
−21.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
5.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 10.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.2%
−75.4 ptssince 2013
from 86.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.1%
+13.3 ptssince 2017
from 74.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
83.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 83.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.8%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 6.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

LancasterCENTRAL58,366
What's inside

1 component county

Lancaster CountyCENTRAL563,159
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Lancaster

Reno
Pop 578,734
Huntsville
Pop 556,444
New Haven
Pop 578,741
Modesto
Pop 557,719
Places similar to Lancaster
Head to head

Compare Lancaster side by side

LANCASTER VS
Reno
Income$87,337same
Home value$520,025+73%
Population578,734+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LANCASTER VS
Huntsville
Income$85,881−1%
Home value$295,284−2%
Population556,444−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LANCASTER VS
New Haven
Income$88,197+1%
Home value$353,100+17%
Population578,741+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LANCASTER VS
Modesto
Income$81,468−6%
Home value$450,100+49%
Population557,719−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lancaster, PA?

Lancaster, PA has about 557,931 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lancaster, PA?

The typical household in Lancaster, PA earns about $86,959 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lancaster, PA expensive?

In Lancaster, PA, the median home is worth about $301,100, and the typical rent is about $1,357 a month.

How educated are people in Lancaster, PA?

About 32.4% of adults age 25 and over in Lancaster, PA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lancaster, PA?

About 8.2% of people in Lancaster, PA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lancaster, PA grown since 1990?

Yes, Lancaster, PA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 135,109 residents, a change of about 32 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →