York-Hanover receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lancaster
York-Hanover
Opportunity
86 · Top 3%
vs77 · Top 14%
Growth
44 · Bottom 41%
vs53 · Top 45%
Climate
64 · Bottom 44%
vs64 · Bottom 42%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 41%
vs83 · Top 11%
Housing affordability
93 · Bottom 45%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
87 · Top 31%
vs93 · Top 19%
Economic stability
92 · Top 3%
vs92 · Top 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Lancaster | York-Hanover | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 557,931 | 462,924 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $86,959 | $84,829 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,128 | $41,601 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 591/sq mi | 512/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $301,100 | $248,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,357 | $1,193 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.8% | 76.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 3.3% | 2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.4% | 27.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 8.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,017 | 1,340 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -16.2% | -21.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.1" | 42.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 29 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 28.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.4 | 41.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lancaster
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
York-Hanover
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lancaster
76
Your Score
73
Area Score
York-Hanover
80
Your Score
78
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lancaster, PA Metro Area · York-Hanover, PA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology