Pennsylvania · GEOID 42071

Lancaster County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 557,931 · 219,224 housing units

Median household income

$86,959

State $80,054

Median home value

$301,100

State $266,800

Median gross rent

$1,357

State $1,235

Homeownership rate

69.8%

State 69.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

46.4%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.8%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.3%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

2.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

3.0%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.46

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Lancaster County	Pennsylvania
Population	557,931	13,018,639
Population density (per sq. mi.)	591.08	—
Median household income	$86,959	$80,054
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$109,200	—
Households	212,748	—
Average household size	2.55 people	—
Owner-occupied	69.8%	69.3%
Renter-occupied	30.2%	30.7%
Race	81.6% White · 4.0% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Lancaster County compared with Pennsylvania.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

32.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.2%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	13.5%	$63,691	$1,592	$206,060
1 earner	28.3%	$74,395	$1,860	$245,904
2 earners	42.9%	$119,695	$2,992	$414,526
3+ earners	15.3%	$167,564	$4,189	$592,711

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

212,748

Average size: 2.55 people

Households with children

58,091

27.3% of households

Per-capita income

$43,128

Poverty rate: 7.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

69.8% owner-occupied vs. state average 69.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 76.3% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 14.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

52.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,978.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $301,100.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,357.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 6,476 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 7.4% · For rent 21.4% · Seasonal 9.1% · Other 54.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

36.8% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 63.2% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.3%

587 units of 219,224 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

1.6%

3,501 units of 219,224 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$69,567

100% MHI$86,959

120% MHI$104,351

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Lancaster County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$61,150	$69,900	$87,350
100% AMI	$76,440	$87,360	$109,200
120% AMI	$91,750	$104,850	$131,050

HUD FMR Area: Lancaster, PA MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

46.4% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (22.3% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.8% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Lancaster County.

Covered employment

239,257

Across 20 sectors

Establishments

14,605

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$59,687

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	43,677	$62,809	$202,777	−$98,323	$1,570
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	37,215	$70,706	$232,172	−$68,928	$1,768
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	29,138	$36,952	$106,528	−$194,572	$924
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	20,463	$24,175	$58,968	−$242,132	$604
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	18,895	$77,583	$257,771	−$43,329	$1,940
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	15,329	$59,869	$191,833	−$109,267	$1,497
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	12,592	$70,425	$231,126	−$69,974	$1,761
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	11,151	$81,718	$273,163	−$27,937	$2,043
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	8,555	$44,286	$133,828	−$167,272	$1,107
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	8,342	$45,449	$138,157	−$162,943	$1,136
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	6,596	$102,468	$350,401	+$49,301	$2,562
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	5,019	$25,689	$64,604	−$236,496	$642
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	4,486	$64,953	$210,758	−$90,342	$1,624
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	4,197	$48,571	$149,778	−$151,322	$1,214
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	4,064	$123,274	$427,848	+$126,748	$3,082
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	3,336	$45,173	$137,130	−$163,970	$1,129
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	2,569	$59,015	$188,654	−$112,446	$1,475
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	2,072	$66,864	$217,871	−$83,229	$1,672
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	1,118	$102,415	$350,204	+$49,104	$2,560
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	443	$86,843	$292,240	−$8,860	$2,171

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	17,104	$23,316	$55,771	−$245,329	$583
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	13,895	$80,716	$269,433	−$31,667	$2,018
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	12,714	$75,448	$249,824	−$51,276	$1,886
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	11,674	$43,840	$132,168	−$168,932	$1,096
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	11,151	$81,718	$273,163	−$27,937	$2,043
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	10,446	$79,061	$263,272	−$37,828	$1,977
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	8,669	$68,060	$222,323	−$78,777	$1,702
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	8,540	$25,975	$65,668	−$235,432	$649
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	7,993	$73,297	$241,817	−$59,283	$1,832
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	7,662	$37,077	$106,994	−$194,106	$927
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	7,592	$40,107	$118,272	−$182,828	$1,003
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	6,961	$57,643	$183,547	−$117,553	$1,441
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	5,716	$81,817	$273,531	−$27,569	$2,045
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	5,583	$73,913	$244,110	−$56,990	$1,848
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	4,244	$61,764	$198,887	−$102,213	$1,544
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	4,197	$48,571	$149,778	−$151,322	$1,214
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	4,064	$123,274	$427,848	+$126,748	$3,082
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	3,749	$58,999	$188,595	−$112,505	$1,475
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	3,690	$73,865	$243,931	−$57,169	$1,847
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	3,644	$64,707	$209,842	−$91,258	$1,618
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	3,498	$30,490	$82,475	−$218,625	$762
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	3,368	$30,181	$81,324	−$219,776	$755
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	3,359	$28,551	$75,257	−$225,843	$714
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	3,084	$19,458	$41,410	−$259,690	$486
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	3,025	$65,133	$211,428	−$89,672	$1,628
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	3,011	$95,187	$323,299	+$22,199	$2,380
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	2,977	$69,195	$226,548	−$74,552	$1,730
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	2,573	$45,550	$138,533	−$162,567	$1,139
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	2,521	$67,099	$218,746	−$82,354	$1,677
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	2,509	$32,771	$90,965	−$210,135	$819
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	2,488	$82,399	$275,698	−$25,402	$2,060
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	2,206	$26,998	$69,476	−$231,624	$675
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	2,180	$36,958	$106,551	−$194,549	$924
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	1,935	$36,845	$106,130	−$194,970	$921
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	1,827	$52,535	$164,534	−$136,566	$1,313
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	1,825	$72,009	$237,022	−$64,078	$1,800
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	1,713	$74,830	$247,523	−$53,577	$1,871
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	1,676	$56,196	$178,161	−$122,939	$1,405
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	1,650	$59,869	$191,833	−$109,267	$1,497
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	1,641	$49,686	$153,929	−$147,171	$1,242
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	1,616	$36,885	$106,279	−$194,821	$922
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	1,535	$28,071	$73,470	−$227,630	$702
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	1,414	$80,193	$267,486	−$33,614	$2,005
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	1,366	$68,756	$224,914	−$76,186	$1,719
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	1,355	$83,368	$279,304	−$21,796	$2,084
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	1,326	$68,963	$225,684	−$75,416	$1,724
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	1,302	$44,150	$133,322	−$167,778	$1,104
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	1,153	$57,655	$183,592	−$117,508	$1,441
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	1,152	$72,704	$239,609	−$61,491	$1,818
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	1,128	$69,227	$226,667	−$74,433	$1,731
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	1,118	$102,415	$350,204	+$49,104	$2,560
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	1,095	$62,275	$200,789	−$100,311	$1,557
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	1,003	$33,580	$93,977	−$207,123	$840
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	964	$77,159	$256,192	−$44,908	$1,929
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	892	$80,720	$269,448	−$31,652	$2,018
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	827	$76,749	$254,666	−$46,434	$1,919
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	778	$37,263	$107,686	−$193,414	$932
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	770	$67,560	$220,462	−$80,638	$1,689
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	639	$51,374	$160,212	−$140,888	$1,284
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	531	$63,952	$207,032	−$94,068	$1,599
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	464	$84,083	$281,966	−$19,134	$2,102
NAICS 212 Mining (except oil and gas) NAICS 212	419	$86,387	$290,542	−$10,558	$2,160
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	354	$109,602	$376,956	+$75,856	$2,740
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	318	$29,304	$78,060	−$223,040	$733
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	303	$76,442	$253,524	−$47,576	$1,911
NAICS 315 Apparel manufacturing NAICS 315	242	$51,896	$162,155	−$138,945	$1,297
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	203	$26,380	$67,176	−$233,924	$660
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	187	$74,477	$246,209	−$54,891	$1,862
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	148	$29,935	$80,409	−$220,691	$748
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	139	$55,929	$177,167	−$123,933	$1,398
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	138	$35,766	$102,114	−$198,986	$894
NAICS 481 Air transportation NAICS 481	104	$81,693	$273,070	−$28,030	$2,042
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	101	$72,931	$240,454	−$60,646	$1,823
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	91	$75,607	$250,415	−$50,685	$1,890
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	89	$83,217	$278,742	−$22,358	$2,080
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	53	$50,042	$155,254	−$145,846	$1,251
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	20	$76,437	$253,505	−$47,595	$1,911
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	11	$73,640	$243,094	−$58,006	$1,841

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	6,870	1,040	18%	$14.01	$29,150	$77,487	$729
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	5,280	(470)	(8%)	$14.18	$29,500	$78,790	$738
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	420	(450)	(52%)	$15.11	$31,440	$86,011	$786
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	7,400	(2,110)	(22%)	$16.52	$34,360	$96,880	$859
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	3,680	830	29%	$17.70	$36,820	$106,037	$921
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	3,520	(90)	(2%)	$17.83	$37,080	$107,005	$927
Tellers SOC 43-3071	400	(560)	(58%)	$20.20	$42,020	$125,393	$1,051
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	3,380	(1,200)	(26%)	$20.97	$43,610	$131,312	$1,090
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	4,330	(660)	(13%)	$21.75	$45,240	$137,379	$1,131
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	2,270	560	33%	$24.79	$51,570	$160,942	$1,289
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,520	(140)	(5%)	$25.39	$52,820	$165,594	$1,321
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	2,750	(160)	(5%)	$27.88	$57,990	$184,839	$1,450
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	110	—	—	$28.06	$58,360	$186,216	$1,459
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	5,080	820	19%	$28.21	$58,680	$187,407	$1,467
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	150	(320)	(68%)	$29.06	$60,450	$193,996	$1,511
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	820	(100)	(11%)	$32.15	$66,880	$217,931	$1,672
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,220	50	4%	$34.93	$72,660	$239,446	$1,817
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,350	680	41%	—	$75,650	$250,575	$1,891
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	760	(20)	(3%)	$39.31	$81,760	$273,319	$2,044
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	5,640	1,260	29%	$44.41	$92,380	$312,850	$2,310

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 42071 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.