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City · 41,249 residents · Fairfield County, Ohio

Lancaster , Ohio

In Lancaster, a typical home is worth $193,900 and typical rent is $1,083 a month. Compared with all of Fairfield County, the typical home value is 35% lower, typical household income is 35% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 16 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $193,900

    35% below the county

    10% below Ohio

    • Lancaster
    • Fairfield
    • Ohio

  • Typical rent

    $1,083a month

    8% below the county

    5% above Ohio

    • Lancaster
    • Fairfield
    • Ohio

  • Typical household income

    $59,133a year

    35% below the county

    17% below Ohio

    • Lancaster
    • Fairfield
    • Ohio

  • Households that own their home

    59%

    16 points below the county

    8 points below Ohio

    • Lancaster
    • Fairfield
    • Ohio

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$276,067
2.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,226 a month
4.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Lancaster is in Fairfield County. The FHA loan limit ($591,100 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Fairfield County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Lancaster apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Logan, the typical rent is $726: 33% less than in Lancaster ($1,083).

  2. The typical home in Lancaster is worth $193,900, 35% less than in Fairfield County as a whole ($298,800).

  3. The typical household income in Lancaster is $59,133, 35% less than in Fairfield County as a whole ($90,966).

  4. 59% of households in Lancaster own their home, against 75% in Fairfield County.

  5. Nearby, in Logan, the typical home value is $159,600: 18% less than in Lancaster ($193,900).

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

The detached house is still the most common home in Lancaster, but it weighs less than in Fairfield County: 70% against 79%.

Year built

In Lancaster, half of the homes were built before 1963; in Fairfield County, before 1984.

There are fewer big homes in Lancaster than in Fairfield County: 54% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 70%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $591,100, at least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Lancaster sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Fairfield County is $1,602; about 86% of rents in Lancaster are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,354 a month

Fairfield County: $1,739 a month

Without a mortgage

$543 a month

Fairfield County: $666 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Fairfield County: 67%

Owning costs less in Lancaster: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,354 a month; in Fairfield County, $1,739. Without one, $543.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Lancaster rose 54% since 2015–2019, less than in Fairfield County (61%).

Much as in Fairfield County, the typical rent in Lancaster rose 36% since 2015–2019.

The typical household income in Lancaster rose 35% over that time; home values changed +54% and rent +36%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureLancasterFairfield CountyOhioUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.9%6.7%4.4%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.2%1.5%3.4%
People per household 2.382.652.372.53
Drive alone 77%76%75%69%
Carpool 9%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 4%1%2%3%
Work from home 9%15%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Lancaster, the rental vacancy rate is 5.9%, about the same as in Fairfield County.

Households in Lancaster are smaller: 2.38 people on average; in Fairfield County, 2.65.

In Lancaster, 77% of workers drive alone to work; in Fairfield County, 76%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

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 $193,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Lancaster, which is $59,133 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $69,130 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Fairfield County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Lancaster. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,787 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,613

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$190,387
Total interest
$273,923
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,274 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,380 a month

  • Tight

    $1,380 to $1,774 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,774 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Lancaster ($59,133 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,613
Principal & interest$1,290
Property tax$157
Home insurance$81
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$86

You need at least $6,787 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

The city and its county

Lancaster and Fairfield County

Lancaster is in Fairfield County, Ohio. 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's own numbers

Typical home value
$193,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,083
Typical yearly household income
$59,133
Households that own their home
59%
Effective property tax rate
0.97%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Fairfield County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$591,100
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,602
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+60%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.5%

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 Fairfield County.

Everything about Fairfield County

Buying

Buying a home in Lancaster

A typical home in Lancaster is worth $193,900: 35% below the county and 10% below Ohio. With the typical household income in Lancaster ($59,133 a year), a typical home costs 3.3 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.

  • Lancaster 3.3 years
  • Fairfield 3.3 years
  • Ohio 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Fairfield County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Fairfield County rose 108% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Fairfield County.

Period County Ohio U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.2% +4.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +60% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +108% +93% +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 Fairfield County, Ohio and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Lancaster $193,900
  • Fairfield $298,800
  • Ohio $214,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Lancaster $1,083
  • Fairfield $1,172
  • Ohio $1,034
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Lancaster $59,133
  • Fairfield $90,966
  • Ohio $71,389
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Lancaster next to Fairfield County and Ohio
Measure Lancaster Fairfield County Ohio U.S.
Typical home value $193,900 $298,800 $214,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,083 $1,172 $1,034 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $59,133 $90,966 $71,389 $80,734
Households that own their home 59% 75% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,879 $3,289 $2,822 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.97% 1.1% 1.31% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 48% 46% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Fairfield 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 $193,900 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 $1,613a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,787
    Cash to close
    $12,604
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $86

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,577a month

    Down payment
    $9,695
    Cash to close
    $15,512
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $92

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,288a month

    Down payment
    $38,780
    Cash to close
    $44,597
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,468a month

    Down payment
    $29,085
    Cash to close
    $34,902
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Lancaster and for Fairfield County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Lancaster

0.97%of the home’s value each year

$1,879 a year for the typical owner in Lancaster.

  • Lancaster 0.97%
  • Fairfield 1.1%
  • Ohio 1.31%

What Ohio publishes Homestead exemption for seniors and people with disabilities (Ohio Department of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in Ohio

Flood risk in Fairfield County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Fairfield County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.5%
1,885
Of those, with NFIP insurance
18%
County Ohio U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.5% 1.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 18% 16% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Lancaster

Typical rent in Lancaster is $1,083 a month: 8% below the county. In Lancaster, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Fairfield County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,602 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $30.81 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Fairfield County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,258 $24.19 $50,320
1 bedroom $1,346 $25.88 $53,840
2 bedrooms $1,602 $30.81 $64,080
3 bedrooms $1,909 $36.71 $76,360
4 bedrooms $2,172 $41.77 $86,880

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 43130.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,330: $272 less than the fair market rent for Fairfield County ($1,602).

  • 43130 $1,330$1,580

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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Lancaster

HUD lists 17 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Lancaster. These are the largest.

  • River Valley Apts 2039 Farmview Dr, Lancaster 43130 144 low-income homes · In service since 1994
  • Hunterwood Park 330 Trace Dr, Lancaster 43130 101 low-income homes · 1 bd: 50 · 2 bd: 31 · 3 bd: 16 · 4 bd: 4 · In service since 2010 · For older adults (740) 687-1314
  • Hunters Hill 888 Elizabeth Dr, Lancaster 43130 96 low-income homes · In service since 1993
  • Lancaster Club Apartments 180 Sells Rd, Lancaster 43130 92 low-income homes · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 44 · In service since 2020 · For families (740) 653-3616
  • Windsor Place 141 Graceland Dr, Lancaster 43130 82 low-income homes · 1 bd: 81 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2006 · For older adults (740) 687-1664

See all 23 buildings in Fairfield County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Lancaster

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.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Fairfield County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Lancaster

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lancaster or Fairfield County. The ones below are statewide in Ohio: they work in Lancaster the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Ohio

  • Your Choice! Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Ohio

    Ohio state agency help of 2.5% or 5% of the price for the down payment, closing costs or other costs before closing, forgiven after seven years; if you sell sooner, you repay all of it. Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Tax Credit

    Statewide in Ohio

    Ohio state agency certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return, up to $2,000 a year: 40% with an OHFA mortgage (MTC Plus) or 15% to 20% with another mortgage (MTC Basic). Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Lancaster

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Lancaster, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Apprisen - CCCS of Central Ohio, Inc.

    700 Taylor Rd Ste 190, Gahanna · 23 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (614) 552-2222

  • Columbus Urban League

    788 Mount Vernon Ave, Columbus · 26 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (614) 257-6300

  • Columbus Housing Partnership, Inc, DBA Homeport

    3443 Agler Rd, Columbus · 26 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    614-221-8889x4826

All counseling agencies in Ohio

Help in Spanish near Lancaster

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Lancaster

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Fairfield County is named for Lancaster or Fairfield County.

One other authority has an office in Fairfield County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Fairfield County

These cities are also in Fairfield County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Fairfield County Housing in Ohio

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Lancaster, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Fairfield County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Lancaster.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Lancaster

Short answers with the numbers for Lancaster and all of Fairfield 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 $193,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Fairfield County it is $298,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Lancaster?

Typical rent in Lancaster is $1,083 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Fairfield County is $1,602.

What is the FHA loan limit in Lancaster?

Lancaster uses the FHA limit for all of Fairfield County (2026): $591,100 for a one-unit home and $1,136,750 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Lancaster?

The typical homeowner in Lancaster pays $1,879 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.97% of the home’s value; in Fairfield County, the rate is 1.1%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lancaster?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Fairfield County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).