The Town FilesLancaster, New York
Town in Erie County · population 45,106 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $277,600
- Household income
- $89,080
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 95 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 46.5
Lancaster is a town of 45,106 people in Erie County, New York. The median home is worth $277,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 82% of New York towns, more vibrant than 78% of New York towns, more walkable than 77% of New York towns.
How Lancaster ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lancaster is worth $277,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $89,080, which is more affordable than 43% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,079 a month. 79.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lancaster | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,079 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $89,080 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Lancaster
| People | Lancaster | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Lancaster
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 95.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 30, 1987 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 20, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 16, 2008.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 26, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3590: Severe Winter Storm |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 466,138 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,971 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Lancaster itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Lancaster
- Lancaster, NY2.0 mi · 10,027 people · home $202,200
- Depew, NY3.7 mi · 15,178 people · home $196,500
- Clarence, NY4.9 mi · 2,733 people · home $338,800
- Harris Hill, NY4.9 mi · 5,839 people · home $322,600
- Alden, NY5.7 mi · 9,706 people · home $244,100
- Elma Center, NY5.7 mi · 2,851 people · home $423,000
- Elma, NY5.8 mi · 11,721 people · home $357,900
- Cheektowaga, NY6.0 mi · 76,829 people · home $185,500
Lancaster questions
Is Lancaster, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lancaster scores better for retirees than 45% of New York towns and quieter than 30%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).
How much does a house cost in Lancaster?
The median owner-occupied home in Lancaster is valued at $277,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,080, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,079 a month.
What is the weather like in Lancaster?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 95.4 inches of snow.
Does Lancaster get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 30, 1987. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)