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Lancaster

#13 in Best Places to Live in Lancaster Area
  • B+
    Overall Grade
  • Town in Pennsylvania
  • 129 reviews
    B+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      C+
    2. Crime & Safety
      C
    3. Housing
      C
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      B-
    6. Diversity
      A+
    7. Jobs
      B-
    8. Weather
      B-
    9. Cost of Living
      B-
    10. Health & Fitness
      B+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      A
    View Full Report Card
    Lancaster is a town in Pennsylvania with a population of 59,556. Lancaster is in Lancaster County. Living in Lancaster offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their homes. In Lancaster there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families live in Lancaster and residents tend to be liberal.
    Population
    59,556

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $109,700
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $816
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Urban Suburban Mix
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      57%
    • Own
      43%
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    Lancaster Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      383.2
      282.7
    • Murder
      3.3
      6.1
    • Rape
      160.6
      40.7
    • Robbery
      153.9
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      274.4
      500.1
    • Theft
      2,228.9
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      140.6
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      14%
    • 10-17 years
      10%
    • 18-24 years
      14%
    • 25-34 years
      18%
    • 35-44 years
      13%
    • 45-54 years
      12%
    • 55-64 years
      9%
    • 65+ years
      10%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      8%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      13%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      22%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      34%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      23%
      13%

    Working in Lancaster

    Jobs
    B-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $40,805
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Lancaster
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    Lancaster Reviews

    129 reviews
    All Categories
    Lancaster has been rated one of the number one places in recent years and was even named "The New Brooklyn" by Forbes Magazine in 2017. The community is phenomenal and makes you feel very safe and connected. This town is also label "The Refugee Capital of America" with having 1,300 people per capita. There is a fantastic amount of interesting things the city has to provide, from first Fridays filled with great food, music, and art, to Friday and Saturday mornings at Central Market in Historic Downtown. This town has a lot to offer and is only getting larger and providing more places and things to do!
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    Lancaster PA, in my opinion, is a happy medium! It's not a small city but it isn't a huge one either. A lot of new condos and shopping centers are being built currently, so Lancaster is really getting a good pick-me-up! It's relatively safe, but then again how safe it any city really. The people here are very kind and there are a lot of programs here to help you in case you are having a hard time paying for something or need to get good health insurance. There are a lot of useful shops within walking distance of the city.
    Lancaster provides an equilibrium between the fast-past environment of the city life and openness of the suburbs. Lancaster maintains its scenic nature, while also keeping up with modern industrialization. New attractions and restaurants are always being built to keep up with the modern changes of society. Lancaster provides many school districts for families with kids as well as a city life downtown for those seeking such an environment. One thing I would change about Lancaster is the architecture of its traffic system. Lancaster has severely increased in its population, and although its nice to live in a trending city, the highways and roads were not planned out well enough to adapt to such a fast-growing population.