Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 New York leads 12 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
New York
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $363k less ($368,800 vs $732,100)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,714)
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails New York by $5,240/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than New York
New York, NY
Pros
20% less violent crime than Lancaster
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Households earn $5,240 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$363k less
$368,800 vs $732,100
Lancaster
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 84.8°F
New York
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New York
Median Income
$5,240
$76,607 vs $71,367/yr
New York
Violent Crime
20% lower
671.0 vs 834.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 83.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
New York is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 12 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 11 and New York wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Lancaster to New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $732,100 median home), income ($71,367 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and New York, NY are about 2,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.