The Town FilesLancaster, Missouri
City in Schuyler County · population 675 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,800
- Household income
- $49,444
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 32.7
Lancaster is a city of 675 people in Schuyler County, Missouri. The median home is worth $154,800, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Missouri towns, quieter than 76% of Missouri towns.
How Lancaster ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lancaster is worth $154,800, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $49,444, which is more affordable than 31% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $349 a month. 71.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lancaster | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $349 | $855 |
| Median household income | $49,444 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Lancaster
| People | Lancaster | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 62.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Lancaster
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 14.8°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 22.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on January 24, 1967 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 29, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 17, 2006.
Severe weather in Schuyler County since 1996
Schuyler County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1961: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Schuyler County
Schuyler County had 811 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,217 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Lancaster itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near Lancaster
- Queen City, MO8.1 mi · 562 people · home $66,900
- Moulton, IA13.4 mi · 607 people · home $81,800
- Bloomfield, IA16.5 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
- Memphis, MO19.5 mi · 1,731 people · home $132,800
- Centerville, IA22.7 mi · 5,412 people · home $103,000
- Kirksville, MO22.8 mi · 17,530 people · home $153,900
- Unionville, MO25.1 mi · 1,735 people · home $105,400
- Green City, MO28.9 mi · 602 people · home $106,300
Lancaster questions
Is Lancaster, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lancaster scores better for retirees than 69% of Missouri towns and quieter than 76%. 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Lancaster?
The median owner-occupied home in Lancaster is valued at $154,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,444, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $349 a month.
What is the weather like in Lancaster?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 14.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 22.6 inches of snow.
Does Lancaster get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on January 24, 1967. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)