Livability Score

69
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities B+

There are some amenities close to this location.
Coffee (19) B
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Boba Cove & Cafe
Coffee Shop
Mr. Boba
Coffee Shop
Dutch Bros. Coffee
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Gasoline Coffee
Coffee Shop
It’s Boba Time
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Caramel Pastries
Coffee Shop
Rare Tea
Coffee Shop
Olives Mediterranean Café
Coffee Shop
Phebies Cafe
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (13) B
Cinemark
Cinema
Cinemark iMax
Cinema
The Hanger
Stadium
Marauder Stadium
Stadium
Lancaster Performing Arts Center
Theatre Arts
Antelope Valley Rural Museum
Museum
Museum of Art and History
Museum
Lancaster Museum
Museum
F-4 Phantom II
Attraction
Brunswick Sands Bowl
Bowling Alley
Civic Musical Road
Attraction
Jet Drive-In (long abandoned)
Cinema
Food and Drink (84) A-
Wingstop
Fast Food
Panda Express
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Jersey Mike's Subs
Fast Food
sweetFrog
Sweets
Subway
Fast Food
Carl's Jr.
Fast Food
El Pollo Loco
Fast Food
Sub-machine
Fast Food
Smoke Rings #3
Alcohol
Jack in the Box
Fast Food
Wendy's
Fast Food
In-N-Out Burger
Fast Food
Panda Express
Fast Food
Little Caesars
Fast Food
Del Taco
Fast Food
Jack in the Box
Fast Food
Burger King
Fast Food
Wienerschnitzel
Fast Food
Del Taco
Fast Food
Taco Bell
Fast Food
Popeyes
Fast Food
Burger King
Fast Food
Carl's Jr.
Fast Food
Taco Bell
Fast Food
Fitness (6) F
Planet Fitness
Gym
Ride360 Indoor Cycling
Gym
24 Hour Fitness
Gym
Antelope Valley Family YMCA
Community Centre
Crush Fitness
Gym
Ladies First Fitness & Spa
Gym
Groceries (16) C-
Walmart Supercenter
Grocery Store
Food 4 Less
Grocery Store
Vallarta
Grocery Store
Albertsons
Grocery Store
The Whole Wheatery
Grocery Store
Winchell's Donut House
Bakery
Double D Cupcakes
Bakery
On the Blvd Market
Grocery Store
Bee Honey
Health Food
Stater Bros.
Grocery Store
WinCo Foods
Grocery Store
Vons
Grocery Store
Pan De Vida Bakery
Bakery
Parks (43) F
Rawley Duntley Park
Park
American Heroes Park
Park
Jane Reynolds Park/Webber Pool
Park
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
Park
Mariposa Park
Park
Whit Carter Park
Park
Castle
Playground
Climbing Rocks
Playground
Sgt. Steve Owen Memorial Park
Park
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
Park
El Dorado Park
Park
Deputy Pierre W. Bain Park/East Side Pool
Park
Forrest E. Hull, M.D. Park
Park
Apollo Park
Park
Shops (79) A+
99 Cents Only Stores
Discount Store
PetSmart
Pets
Burlington
Department Store
Cost Cutters
Hairdresser
Metro by T-Mobile
Electronics
Circle K
Convenience Store
Marshalls
Department Store
Sprint
Electronics
LensCrafters
Optician
Martinez Barber Shop
Hairdresser
Lancaster Nails and Spa
Hairdresser
T-Mobile
Electronics
Vans
Shoes
Circle K
Convenience Store
AT&T
Electronics
Gen X
Clothing
Dollar Tree
Discount Store
Our Sons Plaza
Mall
The Home Depot
Home Improvement
ampm
Convenience Store
ExtraMile
Convenience Store
Shell
Convenience Store
T-Mobile
Electronics
ampm
Convenience Store
ExtraMile
Convenience Store
See more Lancaster amenity data

commute A+

Of all people who commute, 1.9% take public transportation in Lancaster.
Public Transit Stops (82)
Stops & Stations
A+
Valley Central Wy & Central Ct
Bus Stop
Valley Central Wy & Central Ct
Bus Stop
Route 11
Bus Stop
Mobil/Ave J
Bus Stop
Ave J & 25th St W
Bus Stop
Route 11
Bus Stop
Valley Central Wy & Ave J
Bus Stop
Ave J & 27th St W
Bus Stop
Ave J & 27th St W
Bus Stop
Ave J & 20th St West
Bus Stop
30th St W & Ave J
Bus Stop
30th St W & Ave J
Bus Stop
20th St W & Ave J
Bus Stop
Ave J & 20th St West
Bus Stop
Route 11
Bus Stop
Lancaster Blvd & 15th St W
Bus Stop
15th St W & Lancaster Blvd
Bus Stop
Ave J & 15th St W
Bus Stop
15th St W & Ave J
Bus Stop
15th St W & Ave J
Bus Stop
15th St W & Ave J-3
Bus Stop
15th St W & Ave J-3
Bus Stop
15th St W & Ave J-8
Bus Stop
15th St W & Ave J-8
Bus Stop
Mervyn's Shopping Center Rd?
Bus Stop
Workers Taking Public Transit
1.9%
F
See more Lancaster commute data

cost of living F

The cost of living in Lancaster is 125/100 - which is 11% lower than California.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
F
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
F
See more Lancaster cost of living data

crime F

Lancaster crime rates are 2,744 per 100k, which is 3% lower than California
Property Crime
1,876 crimes per 100k
C-
Violent Crime
868 crimes per 100k
F
See more Lancaster crime data

employment C+

The median income in Lancaster is $58,413 - which is 8% lower than California.
Med. Household Income
$58,413
D+
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
C+
See more Lancaster employment data

health C-

There are some hospitals, police and fire stations.
Health & Safety (40)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
A+
Walmart Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Valley Central Dentist
Dentist
Lancaster Dental Care Associates
Dentist
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
California Highway Patrol
Police
Lancaster Healthcare Center
Nursing Home
Antelope Valley Hospital
Hospital
Antelope Valley Professional Bldg.
Doctor
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
AV Kidney Institute
Doctor
Los Angeles County Fire Department Station #130
Fire Station
Michael L. Glass, DDS General Dentisty
Dentist
Family Dentist
Dentist
Antelope Valley Neuroscience Medical Group
Clinic
Tarzana Treatment Centers
Doctor
Burns Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Los Angeles County Fire Department Station #134
Fire Station
Eric Wada D. D. S.
Dentist
Los Angeles County Fire Department Station #33
Fire Station
Nathan Y, LI, D, D, D., INC
Dentist
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lancaster Station
Police
Kaiser Permante Clinic
Clinic
Kaiser Permanente
Hospital
Kaiser Permanente South Bldg & Urgent Care
Clinic
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
F
See more Lancaster health & safety data

housing A+

Lancaster home prices are $280,300 - which is 32% lower than California
Home Price
$280,300
A+
Home Appreciation Rate
34%
A+
Home Affordability
4.8x (home price to income ratio)
F
See more Lancaster housing data

schools F

The Lancaster graduation rate is 78% - which is 2% lower than California
School Test Scores
28%
F
High School Grad. Rates
78%
D+
Elementary Schools (49) F
Amargosa Creek Middle
Desert Christian Schools
West Wind Elementary
Monte Vista Elementary
Desert View Elementary
Sunnydale Elementary
John And Jacquelyn Miller Elementary
Lancaster-Montessori Pre School Inc.
Life Source International Charter
Grace Lutheran Christian School
Crossroads Community Day
Lancaster Alternative And Virtual Academies
Desert Montessori Academy
Nancy Cory Elementary
Sierra Elementary
Sacred Heart Elementary School
Mariposa Elementary
Life Source International Charter
Endeavour Middle
Resnik Camp
Joshua Elementary
El Dorado Elementary
Valley View Elementary
Linda Verde Elementary
Sonshine Factory Preschool & Kindergarten
High Schools (21) F
Lancaster High
Desert Sands Charter
Desert Sands Charter
Desert Christian Schools
Soar High (Students On Academic Rise)
Empower Generations
Antelope Valley High
Scobee Camp
Mcnair Camp
Onizuka Camp
Smith Camp
Jarvis Camp
Desert Winds Continuation High
Empower Generations
Assurance Learning Academy
Assurance Learning Academy
Paraclete High School
See more Lancaster education data

ratings B-

Lancaster has an overall rating of 70% from 14 reviews.
User Reviews (3)
From AreaVibes
B+
User Surveys (11)
From AreaVibes
D
See more Lancaster user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
Photo of Lancaster, CA
( 14 Ratings )

Living in Lancaster, CA

Lancaster Area Facts

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Lancaster Reviews

Write a review about Lancaster Tell people what you like or don't like about Lancaster…
A desirable place to live if you do not like the fast pace of a populous city 3.5 rating By Batangeno ( Oct 18, 2016) I have been familiar with Lancaster since 1992. I have to say it has grown into a community with promise since then. As with any city, there are the good and the bad. This, however, is all up to one's opinion.For starters the goods of this city. Lancaster has been thriving on the ...Read More positive trend, as I have mentioned earlier. Plenty of things to do, but still not up to par with larger populated cities in California. Situated in the Antelope Valley (AV for short), it sits north of its neighbor, Palmdale. Lancaster has goods to offer for the residents of the AV. It has small strip malls for shopping, dining, and amusement. To include: movies/entertainment, fast food, decent all you can eat buffets, electronics/home furnishing stores, a fairly decent indoor mall in Palmdale, plenty of convenience stores just to name a few. You do not have to drive too far and out of the way to enjoy these things in the AV. Transportation isn't a problem either. The bus service is good, the Metro Link rail system (if you want to head down towards Los Angeles or connect to head down to San Diego), and with the advent of Uber and Lyft, there are easy ways to get around the AV if you do not have your own means of transportation. Traffic on the 14 isn't too bad. Although it can get busy in the mornings going southbound and in the afternoons going northbound as commuters travel to and from their place of employment.I would say Lancaster is centrally located to access practically great entertainment and fun. Think of it as a hub of a bicycle wheel and the spokes are the many ways to and from Lancaster. for starters, Magic Mountain is less than an hour drive away, Disneyland is within 2 hours, Las Vegas is within 4 hours, Los Angeles and the beaches are close for great summer fun, and San Diego is less than 3 hours away. All in all, Lancaster is not a bad place to live.Now on to the negatives of Lancaster. As I mentioned earlier, even though it is centrally located, the driving can get monotonous. Especially if you have to deal with the traffic. Yes, I will admit that California drivers can sometimes get too aggressive and cause accidents/a bad driving experience all around. The heat can get unbearable at times and the cost of cooling your home can become astronomical if you aren't careful. It can also get bitterly cold here. It doesn't help when the winds kick up and the wind chill can practically freeze your innards. Speaking of the wind, it can wreak havoc during the dry summer months and kick up a nasty dust storm that can cause accidents on the freeways when it is really bad. The cost of living can sometimes be a burden for lower income individuals or families. Things can get expensive here since we are a part of Los Angeles County and in California in general. City roads can benefit from widening as well. The city roads, especially in stretches where it is less populated, can get quite narrow. It is also difficult to differentiate where the side of the road meets the dirt shoulder in these areas, especially at night. Some of these isolated roads are quite poorly lit. Please be careful when driving on these roads.I am sure the one big question everyone asks is the employment opportunities here. The biggest industry that drives the employment here in the AV is the aerospace industry. Being close to Edwards AFB, you have companies such as Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, JT3, and many other contractors that deal with aerospace. Unfortunately it isn't easy to find employment within this industry, unless you have a vast experience in the career field of aerospace or military experience. And the biggest one of all is, knowing someone already inside these companies. Nepotism can sometimes run amok within these companies.When it comes to crime rate, I am happy to say that it has been on a good downward trend since I first visited the city in 1992. Being a now resident of Lancaster, that is a definite plus for me and my family! As with any other city, your safety is mostly dependent on you. We are the keeper of our own safety and being safety conscious can go a long way. For the most part, citizens of this city are quite friendly.The letter grading shown above is pretty much spot on for everything elseIn conclusion I would say that unless your expertise deals with military or the aerospace industry, you will find it difficult to find a good paying job within Lancaster without commuting further south. Housing is fairly good here and houses are still decently priced, but it is on the upward trend on the dollar scale. Read Less
Wonderful Sense of Community! 5 rating By finkel ( May 16, 2012) This is a wonderful smaller community in LA county. It is far away enough from LA to be distinct in many ways, yet close enough to easily access all that LA has to offer as well.

It has the beauty of the Southwest, yet the convenience of Southern CA. From the snow-capped mountai
...Read More ns to the poppy fields below, the natural beauty here is unbelievable. The pace of life is much slower up here than most of LA.

It has grown much over the years from a small farming community, to now being home to some of the biggest aerospace companies in the world. It has a neat mix up people from lots of places. I grew up here, and am raising my kids here as well. I would recommend it to couples, families and retirees, but probably not singles because you really have to go to LA to experience the nightlife scene.

Enjoy the fairs, festivals, farmers markets, and local museums, as well as the myriad of places to hike in the surrounding mountains. If you are an outdoor enthusiast like I am this is a great place to be! Read Less
Lancaster, CA - Conveniently Located 3 rating By Anonymous ( Jun 03, 2010) I grew up in the city of Lancaster and visit once or twice a year. It's amazing how much the community has grown over the years. There is definitely a lot of shopping venues between Lancaster and Palmdale, its next-door neighbor. Unfortunately, most of the shopping areas are stri ...Read More p malls, identical to every other strip mall in the country. Lancaster does have an outlet mall. To get away from the big-name stores and enjoy a day of boutique shopping you actually have to leave Lancaster and head down the 14 freeway into Valencia.

One thing Lancaster has which is nice, is plenty of parks and inexpensive living, when compared to other suburbs of Los Angeles. Sure, it's an hour away but a majority of Lancaster residents commute to Los Angeles because that's where the jobs are. Some drive, others take the Metro Rail or carpool. Lancaster has festivals and events on the weekends, when everyone is home. In the summer, they offer concerts in the park, a county fair and a lot of children's activities. Overall, there are enough attractions and things to do, so I recommend this city for at least a visit. Read Less
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Lancaster, CA - Conveniently Located 3 rating By Anonymous ( Jun 03, 2010) I grew up in the city of Lancaster and visit once or twice a year. It's amazing how much the community has grown over the years. There is definitely a lot of shopping venues between Lancaster and Palmdale, its next-door neighbor. Unfortunately, most of the shopping areas are stri ...Read More p malls, identical to every other strip mall in the country. Lancaster does have an outlet mall. To get away from the big-name stores and enjoy a day of boutique shopping you actually have to leave Lancaster and head down the 14 freeway into Valencia.

One thing Lancaster has which is nice, is plenty of parks and inexpensive living, when compared to other suburbs of Los Angeles. Sure, it's an hour away but a majority of Lancaster residents commute to Los Angeles because that's where the jobs are. Some drive, others take the Metro Rail or carpool. Lancaster has festivals and events on the weekends, when everyone is home. In the summer, they offer concerts in the park, a county fair and a lot of children's activities. Overall, there are enough attractions and things to do, so I recommend this city for at least a visit. Read Less

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Compare Lancaster, CA Livability

      vs

      Lancaster, CA

      While some people may not think that it is possible to live in the Mojave Desert, the residents of Lancaster prove that it is possible to thrive in this environment. Lancaster is home to over 150,000 people who love to run, walk, and ride in the beautiful sand of the Mojave. Lancaster has all of the stores that modern-day Americans need to meet their daily needs. It also has a selection of restaurants that offer classic favorites and exotic flair. Lancaster is served by the Palmdale Regional Airport.

      The Antelope Valley School District is one of the region's largest employers. Antelope Valley Hospital is another large provider of jobs in the area. The California Highway Patrol rounds out the list of employers in the area. City Center is one of the areas of town that is growing in popularity for first time home buyers. Living in the city center offers perks since most of the shopping, dining, and entertainment are within walking distance. Biking is also a popular activity in Lancaster since you can take advantage of wide shoulders on the roads that help you avoid traffic.

      The Antelope Valley is a beautiful region of California that many long-time residents of the state have not seen due to its relative remoteness. The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Park is awash in colors when the flowers are in bloom. The beautiful orange color that overtakes the area offers a striking contrast to the mountains that stand majestically in the vast distance beyond the city. There is also a historical museum in the area that offers a lot of information on the history of the area and its inhabitants.

      California Route 14 is the main thoroughfare that runs through the city. Traffic is not an issue in Lancaster since it is so isolated and remote. The Antelope Valley Transit Authority provides good public transit options for those who choose not to operate a vehicle.

      Monte Vista Elementary School is one of the best choices for public education. It is located within a few blocks of the high school. Rio Brazilian Grill and the Lemon Leaf Cafe both offer diners a selection of interesting dishes that are very tasteful and beautifully presented.

      Lancaster is a great place to raise a family since you can always get out into nature to enjoy the pleasant weather that blesses the area once the sun goes down to mask the heat of day. The area does not get much water though so expect to see a lot of desert sand if you make the decision to move to Lancaster. Starting a family in the area is easy to do thanks to the city's good hospitals.

      B+ Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Lancaster? Yes, there are some amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Rawley Duntley Park
      American Heroes Park
      Jane Reynolds Park/Webber Pool
      Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
      Mariposa Park
      Whit Carter Park
      Castle
      Climbing Rocks

      Entertainment

      Cinemark
      Cinemark iMax
      The Hanger
      Marauder Stadium
      Lancaster Performing Arts Center
      Antelope Valley Rural Museum
      Museum of Art and History
      Lancaster Museum

      Food & Drink

      Wingstop
      Panda Express
      McDonald's
      Jersey Mike's Subs
      sweetFrog
      Subway
      Carl's Jr.
      El Pollo Loco

      A- Commute

      Is public transit available in Lancaster? Of all people who commute, 1.9% take public transportation in Lancaster.
      Drive to Work
      80%

      4% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      2%

      3% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      1%

      2% lower than the US average

      C Health & Safety

      Is Lancaster a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Antelope Valley Hospital
      Kaiser Permanente

      Pharmacies

      Walmart Pharmacy
      Burns Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      Walmart Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy

      Doctors

      AV Kidney Institute
      Tarzana Treatment Centers
      Antelope Valley Professional Bldg.