Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Lancaster, PA

    Is Lancaster a good place to live?

    Watch Lancaster

    Lancaster ranks #22 of 25 Pennsylvania cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (34/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.5% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $203,700
    +13.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,177
    per month
    Household income
    $63,421
    median
    Unemployment
    7.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Lancaster

    The median home value in Lancaster is $203,700 and median rent is $1,177 a month, against a median household income of $63,421. Homes cost about 3.2× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Lancaster crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Pennsylvania the 2025 rate was 229 violent and 1,360 property crimes per 100,000 people — #34 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Lancaster, PA

    Lancaster has about 57,683 residents, 7.9% unemployment and 18% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Lancaster with

    Lancaster vs PhiladelphiaLancaster vs PittsburghLancaster vs AllentownLancaster vs ReadingLancaster vs ErieLancaster vs BethlehemLancaster vs ScrantonLancaster vs Levittown

    More: Where to move in Pennsylvania · Best counties in Pennsylvania

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report