Lancaster housing market
Typical home value
$386K
▲ 4.3% 1 yr
Typical rent
$1,575/mo
▲ 3.9% 1 yr
12-month forecast
+3.9%
#57 of 546 metros
Gross rent yield
4.9%
#423 of 546 · U.S. 6.3%
Days to pending
17 days
▼ −3 days 1 yr
Listings with a price cut
26%
▲ +3.4 pts 1 yr
Key takeaways
- 1The typical home is worth $386,393, up 4.3% in a year and up 35% over five years.
- 2Zillow forecasts home values rising 3.9% over the next 12 months (U.S.: +1.1%).
- 3Typical rent is $1,575/mo (+3.9% YoY), a 4.9% gross yield, below the U.S. 6.3%.
- 4At 7.32% with 20% down, the typical home costs $2,123/mo in principal and interest, $548 more than renting.
- 5Homes go under contract in 17 days (−3 days vs last year); 26% of listings have had a price cut.
Market temperature
Neutral market
Buyer'sNeutralSeller's
Zillow Market Heat Index: 55/100, #82 hottest of 546 metros. Below 44 favors buyers; above 55 favors sellers.
Home values and rent
How fast homes are selling
For saleNew listings
Affordability
To buy (20% down)To rent
Source: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI and market activity data).
How Lancaster compares
| Measure | Lancaster | United States | Rank of 546 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home value, 1-yr change | +4.3% | +1.2% | #103 |
| Home value, 5-yr change | +34.7% | +19.7% | |
| 12-month forecast | +3.9% | +1.1% | #57 |
| Rent, 1-yr change | +3.9% | +2.7% | #205 |
| Gross rent yield | 4.9% | 6.3% | #423 |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 20.4 | 15.8 | |
| Mortgage P&I on typical home | $2,123 | $2,012 | |
| Income needed to buy | $107,665 | $100,902 | |
| Days to pending | 17 | 56 |
Cities in the Lancaster metro
2 cities with home value and rent data.
| Elizabethtown | $365K | ▲ 4.5% | $1,510 | ▲ 4.4% | 5.0% |
| Columbia | $290K | ▲ 4.3% | $1,347 | ▲ 5.8% | 5.6% |
Run the numbers
Rental property calculator
Cash flow on a typical Lancaster rental ($386K, $1,575/mo), pre-filled.
Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment on a typical Lancaster home.
Rent vs buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lancaster?
Renting out a property in Pennsylvania? See deposit limits, late fee rules and notice periods.
Other Pennsylvania metros
Philadelphia, PA
$386K home$1,903 rent5.9% yield
▲ 2.5% 1 yr
Pittsburgh, PA
$228K home$1,467 rent7.7% yield
▲ 0.2% 1 yr
Allentown, PA
$363K home$1,841 rent6.1% yield
▲ 3.2% 1 yr
Harrisburg, PA
$307K home$1,481 rent5.8% yield
▲ 2.6% 1 yr
Scranton, PA
$234K home$1,362 rent7.0% yield
▲ 2.3% 1 yr
York, PA
$309K home$1,380 rent5.4% yield
▲ 3.4% 1 yr
Reading, PA
$311K home$1,551 rent6.0% yield
▲ 3.5% 1 yr
Erie, PA
$222K home$1,126 rent6.1% yield
▲ 4.7% 1 yr
Gross yield = 12 × typical rent ÷ typical home value, before expenses. Mortgage estimate: 20% down, 30-year fixed at the current Freddie Mac average, principal and interest only. Forecast: Zillow Home Value Forecast. Data refreshed Oct 26, 2026.