Lancaster, NY Crime Rate & Safety
Lower crime than 98% of major U.S. cities
Based on FBI UCR & local law enforcement data · Updated March 2026
Is Lancaster Safe?
Lancaster has a crime rate that is 52% below the national average. Your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 590.
Crime Index Comparison
100 = national average. Calibrated to reflect actual crime severity.
Your Chance of Being a Victim
Violent Crime
1 in 590
chance per year
National average: 1 in 263
56% lower than national average
Property Crime
1 in 98
chance per year
National average: 1 in 55
44% lower than national average
Lancaster Crime Breakdown
Estimated crime rates based on FBI UCR data, calibrated to city-level crime score.
| Crime Type | Index | vs National | Risk Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | ||||
|
Murder
|
48 | -52% | Low | |
|
Assault
|
42 | -58% | Low | |
|
Robbery
|
49 | -51% | Low | |
|
Rape
|
52 | -48% | Low | |
| Property Crime | ||||
|
Burglary
|
43 | -57% | Low | |
|
Larceny / Theft
|
55 | -45% | Low | |
|
Vehicle Theft
|
42 | -58% | Low | |
Violent vs Property Crime
Crime Index by Category
Lancaster Crime Map
Neighborhood-level crime heatmap. Click any area for details.
Lancaster Crime by Zip Code
Explore crime data for specific Lancaster zip codes.
Lancaster Demographics & Context
Racial Demographics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Lancaster, NY?
Lancaster, NY has a crime safety grade of A+ as of 2026. The overall crime rate is estimated to be 52% below the national average. Residents face approximately a 1 in 590 chance of being a victim of violent crime per year and a 1 in 98 chance for property crime. Lancaster has lower crime than 98% of major U.S. cities (population 50,000+).
Is Lancaster, NY safe to live in?
Lancaster is generally considered a safe place to live, earning a crime grade of A+. However, safety varies significantly by neighborhood. Researching specific neighborhoods before moving to or visiting Lancaster is strongly recommended.
What is the violent crime rate in Lancaster?
The estimated violent crime rate in Lancaster is 169.4 per 100,000 residents, which is 56% lower than the national average. This means residents have roughly a 1 in 590 chance of becoming a violent crime victim each year. Key violent crime rates include: murder at 2.4 per 100K (52% below average); aggravated assault at 112.9 per 100K (58% below average); robbery at 36.5 per 100K (51% below average).
What is the property crime rate in Lancaster?
The estimated property crime rate in Lancaster is 1,024.2 per 100,000 residents, which is 44% lower than the national average. Residents have roughly a 1 in 98 chance of being a property crime victim per year. Key property crime rates include: burglary at 116.0 per 100K (57% below average); larceny/theft at 774.0 per 100K (45% below average); vehicle theft at 134.2 per 100K (58% below average).
How does Lancaster crime compare to the national average?
Lancaster's overall crime rate is 52% below the national average as of 2026. The biggest concern is larceny/theft (45% below average), while assault is 58% below average. Compared to other major U.S. cities, Lancaster has lower crime than 98% of them.
Is Lancaster safe to visit?
Lancaster is generally safe for visitors and tourists. Property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins) is 44% below average, which is typically the main concern for tourists. Avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, stay aware of your surroundings in unfamiliar areas, and stick to well-traveled neighborhoods.
How does Lancaster crime compare to the rest of New York?
New York as a whole has crime that is 1% above the national average. Lancaster's crime rate is 52% below the national average, making it safer the typical New York city.
What type of crime is most common in Lancaster?
Larceny/theft is the most common crime in Lancaster, with an estimated rate of 774.0 incidents per 100,000 residents. This is 45% below the national average for this crime type. Overall, property crime (1,024 per 100K) is more prevalent than violent crime (169 per 100K) in Lancaster, which is consistent with national trends.