What are the schools like in Lancaster, CA?

Lancaster is served primarily by Lancaster Elementary. The district operates 18 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 22.6:1.

What is the median household income in Lancaster?

The median household income in Lancaster, CA is $71,367 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.5%.

What is the weather like in Lancaster, CA?

Lancaster has an average high temperature of 58.7°F in January and 97.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 6.8 inches.

Lancaster, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lancaster, CA affordable or expensive?

Lancaster's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lancaster is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $368,800 and the median rent is $1,576 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lancaster, CA?

Lancaster has a violent crime rate of 834.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1920.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lancaster, CA a Good Place to Live?

Lancaster is a mid-sized city of 171,465 in California, with a median household income of $71,367 and a 7.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Lancaster's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lancaster is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lancaster city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 115.5

Lancaster's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lancaster costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.

Metric	Lancaster, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$368,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,576	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,367	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Lancaster's violent crime rate is 834.7 per 100,000 residents — 120% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

834.7 /100k

Property Crime

1920.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Lancaster is served primarily by Lancaster Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lancaster, CA	National Avg
School District	Lancaster Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	18	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	22.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lancaster sees average highs of 58.7°F in January and 97.6°F in July, with 6.8 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Lancaster, CA
Average High — January	58.7°F
Average High — July	97.6°F
Annual Precipitation	6.8"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Lancaster, CA	National Avg
Population	171,465	—
Median Age	33.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	41.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	21.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	28.6%	18.9%
Asian	4.1%	6.3%
Under 18	27.8%	22.2%
65 and over	11.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Quartz Hill, CA 4 mi Desert View Highlands, CA 7 mi Palmdale, CA 8 mi Leona Valley, CA 9 mi Elizabeth Lake, CA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Lancaster

Lancaster, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

93536 93535 93534

Lancaster vs Other Cities

Lancaster, CA vs Quartz Hill, CA Lancaster, CA vs Desert View Highlands, CA Lancaster, CA vs Palmdale, CA Lancaster, CA vs Leona Valley, CA Lancaster, CA vs Elizabeth Lake, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lancaster, CA affordable or expensive?

Lancaster's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Lancaster roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $368,800 and median rent is $1,576/month.

What is the crime rate in Lancaster, CA?

Lancaster's violent crime rate is 834.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1920.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lancaster?

Public schools in Lancaster are operated by Lancaster Elementary. The district has 18 elementary, 5 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.6:1. 19.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lancaster, CA a good place to live?

Lancaster, CA has a population of 171,465, a median household income of $71,367, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lancaster?

Lancaster averages 58.7°F in January and 97.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 6.8 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lancaster?

Lancaster, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 93536, 93535, 93534.

What is the population of Lancaster?

The population of Lancaster, California is 171,465 with a median age of 33.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lancaster?

Key numbers for living in Lancaster: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $368,800, median household income $71,367, crime index 168 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lancaster side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.