What does this measure?
The home value reported by the homeowner to the Census Bureau, adjusted for inflation to 2020 dollars. The median represents the mid-point of home values (half the values are above the median and half below).
Why is this important?
A home is usually a person's or family's highest-valued possession. Home values are also an indicator of the region's cost of living, relative wealth, and general prosperity.
How does our county compare?
In 2016-20, the median home value for Lancaster County was $218,700, above the statewide median of $187,500 and slightly below the national median of $229,800. This represents a 19% increase since 2000, compared to a 27% state and a 32% national increase.
After Chester County, at $369,500, Lancaster County had the second highest median home value of surrounding counties, above Berks ($187,600), Cumberland ($209,700), Dauphin ($175,700), Lebanon ($176,000) and York ($183,300).
The City of Lancaster has median home values significantly below the County's median, at $127,500, a 14% increase from 2000.
Notes about the data
Figures for the region and surrounding counties were calculated by aggregating county medians based on each county's share of the region's population. Data are presented in 2020 dollars. Multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census.
Because of limitations in available data, figures for 2000 are for single-family homes, but figures for ACS five years are for all owner-occupied housing units. For most counties in New York, the difference is not large enough to affect analysis of trends. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter.
| 2000 | 2006-10 | 2011-15 | 2016-20 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $147,271 | $189,073 | $181,264 | $187,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County | $183,778 | $218,865 | $206,597 | $218,700 | |||||||||||||||
| Lancaster City | $111,696 | $112,637 | $119,132 | $127,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County Boroughs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County Townships | |||||||||||||||||||
| Berks County | $162,184 | $202,248 | $183,666 | $187,600 | |||||||||||||||
| Chester County | $277,919 | $396,781 | $355,758 | $369,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Cumberland County | $180,981 | $207,233 | $205,724 | $209,700 | |||||||||||||||
| Dauphin County | $153,329 | $181,715 | $173,839 | $175,700 | |||||||||||||||
| Lebanon County | $154,106 | $185,038 | $178,862 | $176,000 | |||||||||||||||
| York County | $168,087 | $208,301 | $183,885 | $183,300 | |||||||||||||||
Notes: Figures in 2020 dollars. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.
| INDICATORS | TREND |
|---|---|
| Children Living in Poverty | Increasing |
| Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| People Living in Poverty | Increasing |
| People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Veterans Living in Poverty | Decreasing |
| Working Poor | Maintaining |
| Median Household Income by Household Type | Not Applicable |
| Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Living Wage | Not Applicable |
| Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Household Receiving Temporary Assistance | Increasing |
| Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch | Increasing |
| Median Home Value | Maintaining |
| Occupied Housing Units | Maintaining |
| Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
| Median Rent | Maintaining |
| Cost of Renting | Increasing |
| Households Without Vehicles | Decreasing |
| Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |
