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

The median household income in Lancaster was $63,690 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 194th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Pennsylvania median $77,971.

Median household income
$63,690
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
8.1%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
23.6 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,240
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$219,500
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
48.6%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
90.3%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Lancaster?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Lancaster averaged $31,159 a year in 2020-2024, 122nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Pennsylvania: $44,355).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Lancaster?

Lancaster's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.443 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 386th 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, Pennsylvania?

8.1% of the civilian labor force in Lancaster was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (2,593 people), 84th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Pennsylvania's 5.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Lancaster are working?

68.6% of Lancaster's 46,787 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 234th highest 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?

29,513 residents of Lancaster held civilian jobs, 63.1% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%); the survey counted no residents 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 (24.7% of employed residents), followed by manufacturing (15.0%) and retail trade (13.6%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Lancaster work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 15.0% of working residents of Lancaster, 94th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 10.1% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?

Commuters in Lancaster took 23.6 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 347th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 6.8% travelled an hour or more and 34.6% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Lancaster get to work?

10.3% of workers living in Lancaster worked from home in 2020-2024, 224th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 59.8% drove to work alone, 11.9% carpooled, 4.3% used public transport and 10.2% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Lancaster, Pennsylvania?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Lancaster was $1,240 a month in 2020-2024, 225th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Pennsylvania: $1,209).

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 $219,500 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 140th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Pennsylvania: $254,500).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Lancaster?

The median home value in Lancaster was 3.4 times the median household income, 179th lowest 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, Pennsylvania own their home?

48.6% of the 21,971 occupied homes in Lancaster were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 11,298 were rented, 180th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Pennsylvania: 69.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Lancaster have broadband?

90.3% of households in Lancaster had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 224th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Pennsylvania: 89.7%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Lancaster have no internet?

5.0% of households in Lancaster (1,100) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 384th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 12.8% 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 630 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
627Grand Island$63,795
628Fort Myers$63,732
629Columbia$63,719
630Lancaster$63,690
631Auburn$63,668
632Miami Gardens$63,627
633Grand Forks$63,627
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lancaster ranks 702 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
699Rockford$31,263
700El Cajon$31,254
701New Britain$31,171
702Lancaster$31,159
703Las Cruces$31,140
704Lancaster$31,046
705Milwaukee$30,994
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 438 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
435Cuyahoga Falls0.444
436Hammond0.444
437Midwest City0.443
438Lancaster0.443
439Vista0.443
440Grand Junction0.443
441Stonecrest0.443
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lancaster ranks 84 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
81Macon-Bibb County8.1%
82Jackson8.1%
83Lawton8.1%
84Lancaster8.1%
85New Brunswick8.1%
86New York8.0%
87Pompano Beach8.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lancaster ranks 234 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
231Oakland68.7%
232Apple Valley68.7%
233Cuyahoga Falls68.7%
234Lancaster68.6%
235Waukegan68.6%
236Hendersonville68.6%
237Indianapolis68.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lancaster ranks 477 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
474Lehi23.7
475Portsmouth23.7
476Kenosha23.6
477Lancaster23.6
478Bellevue23.6
479Clovis23.6
480Bakersfield23.6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 600 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
597Wyoming10.4%
598Peabody10.3%
599High Point10.3%
600Lancaster10.3%
601Davenport10.3%
602Newport News10.2%
603Norfolk10.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 114 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
111Waltham4.5%
112Champaign4.5%
113Federal Way4.5%
114Lancaster4.3%
115Tinley Park4.3%
116Hillsboro4.3%
117Beaverton4.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 94 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
91Toledo15.0%
92Casa Grande15.0%
93Hamilton15.0%
94Lancaster15.0%
95Columbia14.9%
96Marysville14.8%
97Ogden14.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lancaster ranks 262 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
259Dothan24.8%
260Lauderhill24.8%
261Bloomington24.7%
262Lancaster24.7%
263Richmond24.7%
264Whittier24.7%
265Pittsburg24.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 599 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
596Carson City$1,248
597Winter Haven$1,246
598Kennewick$1,240
599Lancaster$1,240
600Kansas City$1,238
601West Des Moines$1,237
602Vineland$1,233
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lancaster ranks 684 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
681Jonesboro$223,200
682Odessa$223,100
683Waco$221,700
684Lancaster$219,500
685Dearborn$218,800
686Grand Island$218,600
687Jackson$217,800
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lancaster ranks 642 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
639Southfield3.5x
640Rio Rancho3.5x
641Birmingham3.4x
642Lancaster3.4x
643Carmel3.4x
644Roanoke3.4x
645Sterling Heights3.4x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Lancaster ranks 644 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
641Canton48.7%
642Manchester48.7%
643Jackson48.6%
644Lancaster48.6%
645Redwood City48.6%
646St. Cloud48.6%
647Santa Cruz48.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 600 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
597Beaumont90.4%
598Green Bay90.4%
599Montgomery90.3%
600Lancaster90.3%
601Rapid City90.3%
602Spokane Valley90.3%
603Duluth90.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Lancaster ranks 384 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
381Indio5.0%
382Prescott Valley5.0%
383Avondale5.0%
384Lancaster5.0%
385Miramar5.0%
386Westminster5.0%
387Richmond5.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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