The Town FilesLancaster, Ohio
City in Fairfield County · population 40,552 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,900
- Household income
- $59,133
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 37.4
Lancaster is a city of 40,552 people in Fairfield County, Ohio. The median home is worth $193,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Ohio towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 84% of Ohio towns.
How Lancaster ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lancaster is worth $193,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $59,133, which is more affordable than 17% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,083 a month. 59.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lancaster | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,083 | $914 |
| Median household income | $59,133 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 59.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Lancaster
| People | Lancaster | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 90.9% |
Weather in Lancaster
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 40.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.9 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 20, 2011 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 5, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 2001.
Severe weather in Fairfield County since 1996
Fairfield County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4077: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
Jobs and pay in Fairfield County
Fairfield County had 47,292 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,628 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Lancaster itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Lancaster
12 public schools with 7,415 students, about 20.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster High School | 9-12 | 1,918 | 21.3 |
| Thomas Ewing Junior High School | 6-8 | 678 | 21.2 |
| General Sherman Junior High School | 6-8 | 677 | 21.8 |
| Tarhe Trails Elementary School | K-5 | 631 | 24.3 |
| Fairfield Union Rushville Middle School | 5-8 | 625 | 17.9 |
| Gorsuch West Elementary School | K-5 | 576 | 19.9 |
| Medill Elementary School | K-5 | 565 | 21.7 |
| Fairfield Union High School | 9-12 | 561 | 17.5 |
| Mt. Pleasant Elementary School | K-5 | 508 | 20.3 |
| Tallmadge Elementary School | K-5 | 481 | 20.9 |
| Early Childhood Center 1 | PK-PK | 114 | 14.3 |
| Early Childhood Center 2 | PK-PK | 81 | 16.2 |
Towns near Lancaster
- Baltimore, OH8.3 mi · 2,981 people · home $231,300
- Pickerington, OH14.0 mi · 23,094 people · home $339,600
- Canal Winchester, OH14.2 mi · 9,107 people · home $336,100
- Buckeye Lake, OH16.0 mi · 2,520 people · home $200,400
- Logan, OH16.7 mi · 7,296 people · home $159,600
- Groveport, OH17.7 mi · 6,009 people · home $275,100
- Blacklick Estates, OH18.6 mi · 8,990 people · home $165,000
- Ashville, OH18.6 mi · 4,529 people · home $291,000
Lancaster questions
Is Lancaster, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lancaster scores better for retirees than 21% of Ohio towns and quieter than 19%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Lancaster?
The median owner-occupied home in Lancaster is valued at $193,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,133, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,083 a month.
What is the weather like in Lancaster?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.2 inches of precipitation a year and 16.9 inches of snow.
Does Lancaster get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 20, 2011. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)