Lancaster, CA Demographics

A map of Lancaster's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Hispanic	81,512	78,338	48.2%	45.1%
White	39,734	42,321	23.5%	24.4%
Black	32,313	35,497	19.1%	20.5%
Multiracial	6,971	7,408	4.1%	4.3%
Asian	6,967	7,699	4.1%	4.4%
Native American/Other	1,672	2,253	1.0%	1.3%

Lancaster, California has an estimated population of 169,169, a slight decrease from the 173,516 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 48.2% Hispanic, 23.5% White, 19.1% Black, 4.1% Asian, 4.1% Multiracial, and 1.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Lancaster, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Lancaster has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Lancaster, that probability was 69.1% in 2020 and 67.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Lancaster is ranked the 31st most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Lancaster was ranked the 30th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Lancaster's White Population

39,734 residents of Lancaster, or 23.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Lancaster is considerably lower than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Lancaster ranks 1241st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lancaster's White population has declined by an estimated 6.1%. White residents' share of Lancaster's population has decreased from 24.4% to 23.5%.

Lancaster is more White than neighboring Desert View Highlands (14.1% White), and Palmdale (15.5% White). Lancaster is less White than neighboring Quartz Hill (47% White), Leona Valley (66% White), and Rosamond (31.9% White).

Lancaster's Black Population

32,313 residents of Lancaster, or 19.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Lancaster is considerably higher than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Lancaster ranks 15th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lancaster's Black population has declined by an estimated 9.0%. Black residents' share of Lancaster's population has decreased from 20.5% to 19.1%.

Lancaster is more Black than neighboring Quartz Hill (7.9% Black), Desert View Highlands (11.1% Black), Palmdale (12.8% Black), Leona Valley (0% Black), and Rosamond (9.6% Black).

Lancaster's Asian Population

6,967 residents of Lancaster, or 4.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Lancaster is considerably lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Lancaster ranks 514th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lancaster's Asian population has declined by an estimated 9.5%. Asian residents' share of Lancaster's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.1%.

Lancaster is more Asian than neighboring Quartz Hill (2.4% Asian), and Rosamond (3.6% Asian). Lancaster is less Asian than neighboring Desert View Highlands (8.3% Asian), Palmdale (4.6% Asian), and Leona Valley (12.6% Asian).

Lancaster's Hispanic Population

81,512 residents of Lancaster, or 48.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Lancaster is higher than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Lancaster ranks 434th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lancaster's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 4.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Lancaster's population has increased from 45.1% to 48.2%.

Lancaster is more Hispanic than neighboring Quartz Hill (37.6% Hispanic), Leona Valley (17.7% Hispanic), and Rosamond (47.6% Hispanic). Lancaster is less Hispanic than neighboring Desert View Highlands (62.8% Hispanic), and Palmdale (63.5% Hispanic).

Lancaster's Native American/Other Population

1,672 residents of Lancaster, or 1.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Lancaster is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Lancaster ranks 747th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lancaster's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 25.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Lancaster's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.0%.

Lancaster is more Native American/Other than neighboring Quartz Hill (0.8% Native American/Other), and Desert View Highlands (0% Native American/Other). Lancaster is less Native American/Other than neighboring Palmdale (1.1% Native American/Other), Leona Valley (2.1% Native American/Other), and Rosamond (1.2% Native American/Other).

Lancaster's Multiracial Population

6,971 residents of Lancaster, or 4.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Lancaster is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Lancaster ranks 898th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lancaster's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 5.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Lancaster's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.1%.

Lancaster is more Multiracial than neighboring Desert View Highlands (3.6% Multiracial), Palmdale (2.5% Multiracial), and Leona Valley (1.6% Multiracial). Lancaster is less Multiracial than neighboring Quartz Hill (4.4% Multiracial), and Rosamond (6.1% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.