Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency · Public domainLancaster spent less per resident in 2022 than 86% of similar cities
Lancaster’s city government spent $174.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,034 per resident. Water and other utilities ($82.3 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Lancaster is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$970 per resident in 2022: less than 86% of them
Lancaster’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($970 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 59 California cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,354, and the middle half spent $1,098–$2,038. Lancaster spent less than 86% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
California cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Lancaster itself left out).
About $1,034 per resident a year, or $2.83 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 27%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 16% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Lancaster reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $970 · 2024: $1,034. Per resident it went from $970 to $1,034 (up 7%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 155,822 to 169,185.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,074 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.91% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Lancaster’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Lancaster’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Lancaster →
Who’s in charge in Lancaster
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Lancaster’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityoflancasterca.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 551 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (169,185).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Antelope Valley Union Joint High School District
Lancaster’s middle and high school district, shared with Palmdale. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $17,509 per pupil, $10,296 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal.
Westside Union Elementary School District · $14,593 per pupil
Lancaster Elementary School District · $21,234 per pupil
Eastside Union Elementary School District · $21,070 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Lancaster’s votes are counted by county
California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lancaster alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Los Angeles County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat64.8%2,416,522 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican31.9%1,189,227 votesOthers: 3.3% (121,420 votes).
Most votes in Los Angeles County: Kamala D Harris
California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%
100% of Lancaster lies in Los Angeles County. Every 2024 race in Los Angeles County is on the county’s page.
Los Angeles County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Lancaster.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityoflancasterca.org ↗
- 2California AssemblyLancaster is split between 2 districts
- 3California SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Lancaster compares with the towns next door
Lancaster spent $970 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $682. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Palmdale | $682 | $4,493 |
| Lancaster | $970 | $4,074 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Lancaster’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Lancaster’s government
How much does Lancaster spend per resident?
About $1,034 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $970 was less than 86% of 59 California cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Lancaster?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,074 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.91% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityoflancasterca.org.
Who runs Lancaster’s government?
See cityoflancasterca.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Lancaster yet.
How did Lancaster vote in 2024?
California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Lancaster alone. Los Angeles County, where 100% of Lancaster lies, voted Harris 64.8%, Trump 31.9% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Lancaster?
307 full-time and 282 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $2.6M (about $31.3M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Lancaster in the state legislature?
Lancaster is split among 2 Assembly districts, so your address decides. The California Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 23 (Suzette Valladares). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Lancaster’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →