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Lancaster, OH

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Lancaster, OH

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Demographics

HomogeneousSimpson's Diversity Index: 18
Population40,902
Foreign Born0.9%
Population Density2,137people per mi²
Median Age36.9 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

77/100

23% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Lancaster, Ohio

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $16k$30k
Comfortable $35k$51k
Luxury $95k+$147k+
Elite (Top 5%) $111k+$172k+
Affordability Ratio

107%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A-
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean77%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
14
Negative
11

Groceries

6 within 10 miles

0.6mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.3mi

Hospital

6 within 20 miles

1.6mi

Airport

John Glenn Columbus International Airport

24.2mi

Post Office

USPS — Lancaster, OH

0.9mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf5Nearest 3.3 mi
Camping20Nearest 14.8 mi
Marina0 
Winery1Nearest 2.6 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0Nearest 19.6 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D+
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$55k+4.1%
27% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$404k
38% below US avg
College Educated
21.3%
39% below US avg
WFH
7.7%
46% below US avg
Homeownership
56.9%
13% below US avg
Median Home
$180k
36% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B-
Safe

Generally safer than 56% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
15.8
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−17.0%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−16.7%
Homicide*
0.04 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery*
0.38 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault*
1.74 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg

Property Crime

5yr−17.3%
Burglary*
1.75 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Larceny-Theft*
9.70 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft*
1.75 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025* = State-level data substituted where local agency has not published figures

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+16Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Lancaster, Ohio
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak10.0% of income
Property Rights
C
FairIJ Grade C
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (40% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season196 days264 frost-free
Annual Rainfall50.5"
Elevation846 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C-
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D-
Poor27 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,137/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B-
Fair7 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D
PoorInland Flooding, Tornado, Heat Wave, Strong Wind, Hail
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 224 mi · coast 390 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$39.0M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityColumbus906k people are 27 mi away
Nearest Major Airport24 miHub-class commercial airport
Distance to State Capital27 miColumbus, OH
Nearest Prison5.8 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T19:45:18.000Z

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