Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.5 | 558,589 people · 40th most distressed in Pennsylvania
American Default Research

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Lancaster County, PA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.5 — 2037th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks 40th of 67 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lancaster County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.0 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 71
Economic Vitality 69.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 82
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 62
House Price Change (YoY) 33
Consumer Credit Distress 33.0
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 39
Auto Loan Delinquency 27
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 71
Subprime Credit Population 23
Legal Distress 21.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 22
Structural Poverty 13.9
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 10
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 16

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lancaster County
Lancaster County, PA 42.5 Normal —
Berks County, PA 59.4 Elevated +16.9
Dauphin County, PA 57.1 Elevated +14.6
Cecil County, MD 56.3 Elevated +13.7
Lebanon County, PA 50.3 Elevated +7.7
York County, PA 46.1 Normal +3.5
Harford County, MD 45.5 Normal +2.9
Chester County, PA 28.3 Healthy -14.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lancaster County
San Luis Obispo County, CA 42.8 Normal +0.2
Clark County, WA 43.1 Normal +0.5
Honolulu County, HI 42.0 Normal -0.6
Capitol Planning Region, CT 41.9 Normal -0.7
Washtenaw County, MI 41.9 Normal -0.7

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Lancaster County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Lancaster County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lancaster County.

BASE,INC.
Lancaster
717-392-5467
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseRental Help
Tenfold
Lancaster
717-397-5182 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Pennsylvania →

Find an Attorney

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-932-0311

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Lancaster County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia 215-981-3700
MidPenn Legal Services 1-800-326-9177
Neighborhood Legal Services Association 412-255-6700
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
Laurel Legal Services, Inc. (800) 253-9558
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (877) 429-5994
North Penn Legal Services, Inc. (877) 953-4250
Northwestern Legal Services (814) 452-6957
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center (215) 981-3800
Summit Legal Aid (800) 846-0871

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Pennsylvania →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?

    Lancaster County has a County Distress Index score of 42.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,037th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 40th in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lancaster County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lancaster County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lancaster County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lancaster County (42.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Berks County, PA (59.4); Dauphin County, PA (57.1); Cecil County, MD (56.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Lancaster County's score of 42.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Lancaster County's CDI score?

    Lancaster County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Lancaster County?

    Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 558,589 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.