In Lancaster, a typical home is worth $202,200 and typical rent is $969 a month. Compared with all of Erie County, the typical home value is 14% lower, typical rent is 11% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points higher.
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2026 to September 2026: from $1,522 to $1,599.
From Zillow (ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Lancaster is in Erie County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Erie County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
74% of households in Lancaster own their home, against 66% in Erie County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Lancaster
What homes there are in Lancaster, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Lancaster
Erie County
New York
United States
Kind of home: Lancaster and its comparisons
Measure
Lancaster
Erie County
New York
United States
Detached house
62%
59%
41%
61%
Attached house
5%
3%
6%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
24%
23%
17%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
13%
35%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Lancaster, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Erie County, 6.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Lancaster
Erie County
New York
United States
Year built: Lancaster and its comparisons
Measure
Lancaster
Erie County
New York
United States
Before 1960
66%
55%
52%
26%
1960–1979
25%
22%
22%
24%
1980–1999
8%
13%
14%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
5%
6%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
5%
6%
11%
The typical home in Lancaster was built in 1952, 5 years before the typical one in Erie County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K44%
$200K–$300K41%
$300K–$500K7%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Lancaster and its comparisons
Measure
Lancaster
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
44%
$200K–$300K
41%
$300K–$500K
7%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99946%
$1,000–$1,49944%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Lancaster and its comparisons
Measure
Lancaster
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
46%
$1,000–$1,499
44%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,435 a month
Erie County: $1,619 a month
Without a mortgage
$669 a month
Erie County: $661 a month
Owners with a mortgage
66%
Erie County: 57%
In Lancaster, 66% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,435 a month, against $1,619 in Erie County. Without one it drops to $669.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Lancaster+64%
Erie County+52%
New York+35%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Lancaster+27%
Erie County+32%
New York+27%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Lancaster+21%
Erie County+25%
New York+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Lancaster and its comparisons
Measure
Lancaster
Erie County
New York
United States
Typical home value
+64%
+52%
+35%
+53%
Typical rent
+27%
+32%
+27%
+33%
Typical household income
+21%
+25%
+26%
+29%
The typical home value in Lancaster rose 64% since 2015–2019, more than in Erie County (52%).
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Lancaster rose 27%, less than in Erie County (32%).
The typical household income in Lancaster rose 21%: less than home values (+64%) and rent (+27%).
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Lancaster and its comparisons
Measure
Lancaster
Erie County
New York
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
3.8%
3.8%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.6%
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.3%
5.3%
3.4%
People per household
2.07
2.26
2.49
2.53
Drive alone
81%
72%
49%
69%
Carpool
9%
8%
6%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
3%
22%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
6%
3%
Work from home
7%
13%
15%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer people live in each home here: 2.07 on average, against 2.26 in Erie County.
In Lancaster, 81% of workers drive alone to work; in Erie County, 72%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Lancaster?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Lancaster, worth $202,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income in Lancaster, which is $66,148 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $82,705 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Erie County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Lancaster. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $7,077 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,930
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$198,538
Total interest
$285,649
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,415 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,543 a month
Tight
$1,543 to $1,984 a month
Your payment · 35%
Hard
more than $1,984 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Lancaster ($66,148 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,345
Property tax
$411
Home insurance
$84
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$89
You need at least $7,077 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,930; principal and interest $1,345.
The city and its county
Lancaster and Erie County
Lancaster is in Erie County, New York. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Lancaster
Map of Erie County, New York, with Lancaster marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Lancaster
Erie County
Other cities with a page
Lancaster's own numbers
Typical home value
$202,200
Typical monthly rent
$969
Typical yearly household income
$66,148
Households that own their home
74%
Effective property tax rate
2.44%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Erie County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,423
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+58%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Erie County.
A typical home in Lancaster is worth $202,200: 14% below the county and 52% below New York. With the typical household income in Lancaster ($66,148 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Lancaster3.1 years
Erie3.2 years
New York4.9 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Erie County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Erie County rose 104% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Erie County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Erie County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.5% +4.5% 2016
2017: +5.7% +5.7% 2017
2018: +6.6% +6.6% 2018
2019: +4.8% +4.8% 2019
2020: +5.1% +5.1% 2020
2021: +12.3% +12.3% 2021
2022: +14.5% +14.5% 2022
2023: +8.6% +8.6% 2023
2024: +6.2% +6.2% 2024
2025: +6.2% +6.2% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Erie County, New York and the United States
Period
County
New York
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+6.2%
+6.0%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+58%
+52%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+104%
+86%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Lancaster next to Erie County, New York and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Lancaster$202,200
Erie$233,800
New York$423,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Lancaster$969
Erie$1,090
New York$1,621
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Lancaster$66,148
Erie$72,839
New York$85,974
United States$80,734
See the full table
Lancaster next to Erie County and New York
Measure
Lancaster
Erie County
New York
U.S.
Typical home value
$202,200 ▼14% below the county
$233,800
$423,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$969 ▼11% below the county
$1,090
$1,621
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$66,148 ▼9% below the county
$72,839
$85,974
$80,734
Households that own their home
74% ▲8 points above the county
66%
54%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,932 ▲7% above the county
$4,622
$6,582
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
2.44% ▲0.46 points above the county
1.98%
1.55%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
52% ▲2 points above the county
50%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Erie County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lancaster
For a typical $202,200 home in Lancaster, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lancaster's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,930a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$7,077
Cash to close
$13,143
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $89
Conventional, 5% down$1,893a month
Down payment
$10,110
Cash to close
$16,176
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $96
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,591a month
Down payment
$40,440
Cash to close
$46,506
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,778a month
Down payment
$30,330
Cash to close
$36,396
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lancaster
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,930
$7,077
$198,538
7.18%
FHA MIP · $89
$13,143
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,893
$10,110
$192,090
7.18%
PMI · $96
$16,176
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,591
$40,440
$161,760
7.18%
None
$46,506
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,778
$30,330
$171,870
8.18%
None
$36,396
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Lancaster is $969 a month: 11% below the county. In Lancaster, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Erie County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,423 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $27.37 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Erie County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,178
$22.65
$47,120
1 bedroom
$1,203
$23.13
$48,120
2 bedrooms
$1,423
$27.37
$56,920
3 bedrooms
$1,732
$33.31
$69,280
4 bedrooms
$1,977
$38.02
$79,080
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Lancaster
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lancaster is in ZIP code 14086.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,400: $23 less than the fair market rent for Erie County ($1,423).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Lancaster, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
14086
$1,160
$1,180
$1,400
$1,700
$1,950
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
14086 $1,400$1,700
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Lancaster when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 5 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Erie County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lancaster or Erie County. The ones below are statewide in New York: they work in Lancaster the same as in the rest of the state.
SONYMA second loan with no interest, forgiven after ten years, for the down payment with a SONYMA mortgage in New York.Offered by State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA).
SONYMA mortgage at a very low fixed rate for low-income first-time buyers in New York, with a minimal down payment.Offered by State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Lancaster or Erie County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Lancaster and all of Erie County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Lancaster?
The typical home value in Lancaster is $202,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Erie County it is $233,800.
How much does it cost to rent in Lancaster?
Typical rent in Lancaster is $969 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Erie County is $1,423.
What is the FHA loan limit in Lancaster?
Lancaster uses the FHA limit for all of Erie County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Lancaster?
The typical homeowner in Lancaster pays $4,932 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.44% of the home’s value; in Erie County, the rate is 1.98%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lancaster?
There are 5 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Erie County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
