Rents are 8% below what Lancaster's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,226 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Lancaster usually run 2.1% below trend in February and 1.5% above it in July, about $44 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Lancaster is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2021.
Rent in Lancaster changed +4.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 93 Ohio cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($59,133) is $1,478 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,420); a 4-bedroom is $1,580.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lancaster. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Lancaster, OH is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 21.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lancaster, OH has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Lancaster, OH has climbed by $315 per month, settling near $1,226 after starting the period at $911. Census figures show median household income at $59,133 today, compared with $50,994 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 18.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 40,360 to 41,249 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.2% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Lancaster on your salary?
At $1,226/mo, how Lancaster rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lancaster rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lancaster. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lancaster
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lancaster is $1,226/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $890/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,180/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $970/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,420/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($59,133/yr), Lancaster ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Lancaster?
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How does Lancaster rent compare to other cities in Ohio?
At $1,226/mo, rent takes ~25% of Lancaster's median household income ($59,133/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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