Home › PA › Lancaster, PA Cost of living in Lancaster, PA Livability score 64 · cost-of-living index 96.8 (US = 100)
How Lancaster compares Where Lancaster falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 97 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 97 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $388k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $388k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $222 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $222 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.3% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.3% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.48% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.48% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 390 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 390 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 21.5 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 21.5 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 85° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 85° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 22° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 22° Map of Lancaster Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 96.8 metro-area #109 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 98.3 metro-area #138 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.51 metro-area #109 of 200 Median household income $81,458 metro-area #54 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $42,337 metro-area #73 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 39.1 years metro-area #111 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 31.0% metro-area #124 of 200 Foreign-born residents 5.6% metro-area #149 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 69.9% metro-area #48 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 3.38% metro-area #11 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.1% metro-area #116 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $388,207 metro-area #129 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.8× metro-area #102 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +4.6% metro-area #25 of 200 Price per square foot $222 metro-area #138 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,750 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,526 metro-area #85 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 688 Median days on market 5 metro-area #1 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.6% state #115 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.34% state #32 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.07% Capital gains tax 3.07% state #53 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.48% metro-area #145 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,913 metro-area #153 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 78.8 years metro-area #38 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,000 state #129 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 12.1% metro-area #155 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 72 metro-area #114 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 state #110 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $65 state #29 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 5 Avg commute to work 24 min metro-area #87 of 200 Commute by driving alone 73.3% metro-area #75 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 30.3% metro-area #87 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 21.5¢/kWh state #147 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $193 state #141 of 200 Gasoline $3.55/gal state #150 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $82 state #167 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $65 state #14 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,200 state #8 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 state #51 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 95.0 — Relatively High metro-area #145 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 50 metro-area #132 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 800 metro-area #49 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 11 metro-area #49 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 85°F metro-area #59 of 200 Avg winter low 22°F metro-area #130 of 200 Annual precipitation 44.1" metro-area #116 of 200 Annual snowfall 23.1" metro-area #127 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 56% metro-area #132 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 390 state #91 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,400 state #11 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 17 metro-area #186 of 200 Parks 9 Hiking areas 9 Golf courses 9 Shooting ranges 1 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Salaries by occupation in Lancaster Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $161,770 Pharmacists $133,450 Financial Managers $129,270 Human Resources Managers $117,010 Lawyers $116,230 Marketing Managers $112,360 Physician Assistants $108,740 Construction Managers $102,680 Software Developers $98,720 Physical Therapists $97,280 General & Operations Managers $94,090 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $88,140 Civil Engineers $82,720 Mechanical Engineers $80,760 Registered Nurses $80,470 Dental Hygienists $80,120 Data Scientists $77,990 Elementary School Teachers $73,960 Accountants & Auditors $72,780 Electricians $62,310 Web Developers $62,220 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $60,130 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,360 Carpenters $49,610 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $48,400 Graphic Designers $47,320 Real Estate Sales Agents $44,280 Medical Assistants $38,260
Cities in the Lancaster area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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