State rank#6 of 67
Smallest county557,931 residentsPhiladelphia County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 42071
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population557,931
Household income$86,959
Unemployment2.9%
Life expectancy78.8 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Lancaster County has 557,931 residents and ranks #6 by population among Pennsylvania county equivalents. Median household income is $86,959. The annual-average unemployment rate is 2.9%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Pennsylvania
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Lancaster County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Lancaster County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $301,100 median home value and $1,357/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $86,959, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Lancaster County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, median household income, and life expectancy. College attainment is 32.4% and life expectancy is 78.8 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 2.9%, rank #3 of 67 available Pennsylvania counties.
- Median household income: $86,959, rank #8 of 67 available Pennsylvania counties.
- Life expectancy: 78.8 years, rank #11 of 67 available Pennsylvania counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Uninsured: 12.1%, rank #67 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $301,100, rank #61 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,357/mo, rank #58 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Pennsylvania
Rank and range use only counties in Pennsylvania with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$86,959
$86,959; above the state county median of $66,318.
State rank #8 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$301,100
$301,100; above the state county median of $202,200.
State rank #61 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,357/mo
$1,357/mo; above the state county median of $901/mo.
State rank #58 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
2.9%
2.9%; below the state county median of 3.9%.
State rank #3 of 67 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
32.4%
32.4%; above the state county median of 23.9%.
State rank #16 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
78.8 years
78.8 years; above the state county median of 76.2 years.
State rank #11 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
16.9%
16.9%; below the state county median of 18.1%.
State rank #17 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
12.1%
12.1%; above the state county median of 6.8%.
State rank #67 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,384 residents
1 per 1,384 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,736 residents.
State rank #20 of 65 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 486 residents
1 per 486 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 597 residents.
State rank #26 of 67 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Lancaster County FAQ
Is Lancaster County a good place to live?
Lancaster County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, median household income, and life expectancy. College attainment is 32.4% and life expectancy is 78.8 years.
What should I know before moving to Lancaster County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $301,100 median home value and $1,357/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $86,959, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Lancaster County?
Lancaster County has 557,931 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Lancaster County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 42071; the parent state FIPS is 42.
What is the median household income in Lancaster County?
The ACS median household income is $86,959.
How much does housing cost in Lancaster County?
Housing benchmarks are $301,100 median home value and $1,357/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $86,959, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Lancaster County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 2.9%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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