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Economy, jobs and prices in Lancaster, California: official figures

The median household income in Lancaster was $81,511 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 403rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.

Median household income
$81,511
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
7.5%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
30.8 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,764
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$446,600
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
60.4%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
91.6%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Lancaster?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Lancaster averaged $31,046 a year in 2020-2024, 120th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Lancaster?

Lancaster's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.433 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 292nd least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Lancaster, California?

7.5% of the civilian labor force in Lancaster was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (5,443 people), 123rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Lancaster are working?

56.5% of Lancaster's 129,486 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 28th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Lancaster have jobs?

67,393 residents of Lancaster held civilian jobs, 52.0% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 333 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Lancaster?

The largest industry group for working residents of Lancaster was education, health care and social assistance (27.1% of employed residents), followed by retail trade (10.3%) and professional, scientific, management and administrative services (9.8%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Lancaster work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 9.1% of working residents of Lancaster, 399th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 9.8% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Lancaster, California?

Commuters in Lancaster took 30.8 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 113th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 17.0% travelled an hour or more and 28.9% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Lancaster get to work?

9.8% of workers living in Lancaster worked from home in 2020-2024, 203rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 72.1% drove to work alone, 13.2% carpooled, 1.4% used public transport and 1.2% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Lancaster, California?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Lancaster was $1,764 a month in 2020-2024, 295th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Lancaster?

Owner-occupied homes in Lancaster had a median value of $446,600 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 332nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Lancaster?

The median home value in Lancaster was 5.5 times the median household income, 291st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Lancaster, California own their home?

60.4% of the 52,374 occupied homes in Lancaster were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 20,759 were rented, 359th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; California: 55.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Lancaster have broadband?

91.6% of households in Lancaster had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 322nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; California: 93.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Lancaster have no internet?

5.7% of households in Lancaster (3,006) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 311th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 13.0% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Lancaster compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 403 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
400Palmdale$81,770
401Durham$81,619
402Grand Prairie$81,619
403Lancaster$81,511
404Vancouver$81,338
405Phoenix$81,332
406Olympia$81,302
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 704 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
701New Britain$31,171
702Lancaster$31,159
703Las Cruces$31,140
704Lancaster$31,046
705Milwaukee$30,994
706Plainfield$30,960
707Lansing$30,958
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 532 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
529Tacoma0.433
530Largo0.433
531Doral0.433
532Lancaster0.433
533Clovis0.433
534Federal Way0.433
535Grand Rapids0.432
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 123 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
120Colton7.5%
121Kissimmee7.5%
122Columbia7.5%
123Lancaster7.5%
124South Gate7.4%
125Antioch7.4%
126Burbank7.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 796 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
793Galveston56.6%
794Port Orange56.6%
795Ocala56.5%
796Lancaster56.5%
797Decatur56.3%
798Dearborn55.7%
799Scranton55.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 113 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
110Burleson30.9
111Elk Grove30.8
112Oak Lawn30.8
113Lancaster30.8
114DeSoto30.8
115Margate30.7
116Mableton30.7
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 621 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
618Kalamazoo9.8%
619Fargo9.8%
620Carson City9.8%
621Lancaster9.8%
622Springfield9.8%
623Moore9.8%
624Southaven9.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 350 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
347Anchorage1.4%
348Colton1.4%
349Decatur1.4%
350Lancaster1.4%
351Riverside1.4%
352Baton Rouge1.4%
353Normal1.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 399 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
396Muncie9.2%
397Scranton9.2%
398Burleson9.1%
399Lancaster9.1%
400Columbus9.1%
401Rialto9.1%
402National City9.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 148 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
145Palo Alto27.2%
146Minneapolis27.1%
147Pharr27.1%
148Lancaster27.1%
149Casper27.1%
150Wake Forest27.0%
151Medford27.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 295 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
292West Palm Beach$1,772
293Plainfield$1,767
294Plymouth$1,766
295Lancaster$1,764
296Frederick$1,764
297Round Rock$1,763
298Evanston$1,762
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 332 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
329Smyrna$449,500
330Elizabeth$449,300
331Marietta$448,500
332Lancaster$446,600
333Santa Fe$444,900
334Colton$443,800
335Modesto$442,700
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 288 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
285Ann Arbor5.5x
286Rialto5.5x
287Bayonne5.5x
288Lancaster5.5x
289Sandy5.5x
290Richmond5.5x
291Marysville5.5x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 359 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
356Bakersfield60.6%
357Overland Park60.5%
358Des Moines60.5%
359Lancaster60.4%
360Coral Springs60.3%
361West Covina60.3%
362Waxahachie60.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 502 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
499Newport News91.6%
500Billings91.6%
501St. Cloud91.6%
502Lancaster91.6%
503Oakland91.6%
504Waxahachie91.6%
505Pasadena91.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 311 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
308Jacksonville5.8%
309Carson City5.8%
310Bowling Green5.7%
311Lancaster5.7%
312Newport News5.7%
313Stockton5.7%
314Billings5.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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