Census ACS · #105 MSA
Lancaster Metro Area
The Lancaster, Pa Metropolitan Statistical Area has 555,151 residents. The median household income is $83,703 and the median home value is $279,400.
555,151
Population
588
People / sq mi
$83,703
Median Income
$279,400
Median Home Value
The Lancaster CBSA covers 944 sq mi of land at 588.1 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 82.9% |
| Black or African American | 4.0% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.8% |
Economy & Income
$83,703
Median Household Income
$41,319
Per Capita Income
5.6%
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Lancaster metro's price level is 98.3 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 1.7% lower the US average. The local median income of $83,703 has the buying power of $85,188 in average-priced US metros.
98.3
Price Level (US = 100)
$85,188
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$83,703
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$279,400
Median Home Value
$1,289
Median Rent
69.9%
Homeownership
Education
87.1%
High School+
31.0%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.8%
Drive Alone
10.3%
Work From Home
24.0 min
Avg Commute
17.5%
Foreign Born
Lancaster spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Pennsylvania
Largest counties in Pennsylvania
Part of Pennsylvania
Other metros
Metro areas in Pennsylvania
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Lancaster, Pa Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 555,151 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #105 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Lancaster metro area is $83,703, with a per capita income of $41,319.
The Lancaster, Pa CBSA spans the state of Pennsylvania.
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More from Pennsylvania
Data for the Lancaster, Pa CBSA (29540) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Lancaster stands apart on settlement density — it is among the most densely settled of US metro areas, at roughly 588 people per square mile. Lancaster is a metro area in PA with a population of 555,151.
The typical household earns $83,703 a year, above the US median of $78,538. Poverty is relatively low for US metro areas at 5.6%, below the national 12.4%. A typical home is worth $279,400, with typical rent around $1,289.
Educational attainment is on the higher side for US metro areas — 31.0% of adults hold a four-year degree, below the national 35.0%.
That density explains much of the rest of the profile in Lancaster: denser places lean toward renting, shorter commutes by transit, and a younger working-age mix.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.