Best Life Index › States › Pennsylvania › Cities › Lancaster

Pennsylvania city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Lancaster?

What it costs to live in Lancaster, and how it compares with other Pennsylvania cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

38

37th best value in Pennsylvania

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Pennsylvania cities.

Overall livability

38

29th overall in Pennsylvania

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Lancaster is home to about 58,034 people. A typical home runs $145,300 and a household earns around $54,100, a price-to-income ratio of 2.7. Among Pennsylvania's largest cities, it ranks 37th for value and 29th overall.

Lancaster at a glance

Median home price

$145,300

26th in PA of 44

Median rent

$995/mo

Median household income

$54,100

Home price to income

2.7x

Unemployment

7.0%

29th in PA of 44

School rating

4/10

21st in PA of 44

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in PA of 44

Walk score

5/100

See your real take-home pay in Pennsylvania

Enter your salary and see your paycheck after Pennsylvania taxes.

Calculate my take-home pay ›

‹ See all top Pennsylvania cities ranked  ยท  Pennsylvania state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Pennsylvania only. Updated 2026.