Should I Move To
Lancaster, Pennsylvania is home to about 57,970 people. On cost of living, it lands in the moderate band — essentially matching the national average. The median renter pays around $1,084 a month against a typical household income of $61,014. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 52 out of 100 (grade C-), putting it at #417 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lancaster's composite cost-of-living index lands at 97 (100 = US average), which puts it in the moderate band. At $1,084/mo against $61,014 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 21% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $179,500.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 87°F, winter averages around 27°F. Precipitation totals about 45 inches a year. A walker's paradise by US standards. Many people here genuinely skip car ownership. AQI is in the moderate range at about 51.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Lancaster reads as a moderate fit for families. The profile-weighted score is 58/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is walkability (95/100); the soft spot is job market (16/100).
Lancaster reads as a moderate fit for retirees. The profile-weighted score is 67/100 — a B-. Its standout dimension is walkability (95/100); the soft spot is job market (16/100).
Lancaster reads as a moderate fit for remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 63/100 — a C+. Its standout dimension is walkability (95/100); the soft spot is job market (16/100).
Lancaster reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 58/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is walkability (95/100); the soft spot is job market (16/100).
Our overall score for Lancaster is 52/100 — a C-, sitting at #417 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Lancaster sits at 97 — moderate, essentially matching the national average. Median renter pays around $1,084 a month.
Lancaster runs four-season on the weather. Summer's near 87°F, winter's near 27°F; 45 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 95/100. A walker's paradise by US standards. Many people here genuinely skip car ownership.
Roughly 57,970 people live here, with 27% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 32.
Drop Lancaster into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Lancaster with other Pennsylvania cities scored on UrbRank.
Take the 2-minute UrbRank quiz to get a personalized ranking of US cities based on your priorities — cost, climate, commute, jobs, and more.