Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Lancaster County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Lancaster County Around averageWealthier than 77% of counties in Pennsylvania
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lancaster County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $87,635 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,589 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.3% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.5% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lancaster County is about 12% higher than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing faster in Lancaster County (5.0%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Lancaster County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania grew by 59.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $87,635 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lancaster County
| Metric | Lancaster County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.520 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,267 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,717 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.2% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Lancaster County, it is 0.520, lower than Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $579,250 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 29% to 23% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,895 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lancaster County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.6% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 9,809 people are unemployed in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Lancaster County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has fallen from 6.2% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2023.
Lancaster County, PA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lancaster County, PA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 557,898 residents against a local median of 432,828. Where Lancaster County, PA breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 21% below the local median of 4.3% at 3.4%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.0%/yr against a local median of 4.3%/yr, 18% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Lancaster County, PA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 1.6% on unemployment, so Lancaster County, PA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lancaster County, PA has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County, PA | 557,898 | $87,635 #3/6 | 5.0%/yr #1/6 | 3.4% #1/6 | 0.520 #4/6 |
| Lebanon County, PA | 144,187 | $78,489 | 4.2%/yr | 4.3% | 0.512 |
| Berks County, PA | 432,828 | $80,413 | 4.3%/yr | 5.4% | 0.533 |
| York County, PA | 462,883 | $85,271 | 4.5%/yr | 4.5% | 0.508 |
| Chester County, PA | 543,223 | $127,033 | 4.5%/yr | 3.8% | 0.522 |
| Harford County, MD | 263,722 | $113,029 | 4.2%/yr | 3.8% | 0.514 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Pennsylvania, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?
Lancaster County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $87,635, about 12% higher than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
How has median household income changed in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania rose 59%, from $54,998 to $87,635. Over the same years, income here outpaced Pennsylvania as a whole: +59% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Lancaster County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was $84,416, up 3% from $82,049 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Lancaster County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was $70,285. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $87,635.
Is unemployment high in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?
Unemployment in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is only 3.4%, well below the Pennsylvania rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Lancaster County is 0.520. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 29% to 23% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,895 since 2009.
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