Lancaster, PA · standard
ZIP Code 17603
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 61,973
- 803/sq mi High-density area
- $77,084
- Median income Near-median income area
- $262,400
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 37.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lancaster pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated and unusually populous area.
- Top 42%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 40%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 803
- people per sq mi
- 62%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 17603 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 17603 (Lancaster, PA) rose +7.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 285.8 in 2023 to 307.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 17603 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with 61,973 residents across 77.2 square miles, a density of 803 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 17603 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $77,084 (1% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $42,414. The poverty rate is 13.0%, with unemployment at 5.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $262,400 (15% above the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while 61.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,355.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 37.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.7, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lancaster County, so 17603 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 17603
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lancaster, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 17603.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
213 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
194 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
185 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
176 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
174 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 17603, Lancaster, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
61,973
Population
77.2
Area (sq mi)
803
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 17603?
35.7
Median Age
47.1%
Male
52.9%
Female
9.7%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$77,084
Median Household Income
-1% vs state ZIP avg
$42,414
Per Capita Income
13.0%
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Unemployment Rate
23.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 17603 ranks nationally
Lancaster, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$77,084 Top 42% higher than 58% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
28,466housing units
28,466
Total Housing Units
27,248
Occupied Units
1,218
Vacant Units
2.37
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$262,400
Median Home Value
+15% vs state ZIP avg
$1,355
Median Rent
1959
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.8%
YoY Change (2024)
308
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+208%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 17603 have increased 7.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +208% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.4% | 199 |
| 2021 | +12.6% | 224 |
| 2022 | +17.6% | 263 |
| 2023 | +8.5% | 286 |
| 2024 | +7.8% | 308 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,501 business establishments in ZIP 17603, employing approximately 26,331 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,346,446,000.
1,501
Businesses
26,331
Employees
$1.3B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 213 | 14.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 194 | 12.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 185 | 12.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 176 | 11.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 174 | 11.6% |
| Construction | 101 | 6.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 75 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 74 | 4.9% |
| Manufacturing | 67 | 4.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 63 | 4.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 60 | 4.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 32 | 2.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 26 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 23 | 1.5% |
| Information | 18 | 1.2% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 14 | 0.9% |
| Industries not classified | 4 | 0.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 17603 vs 17551 →
ZIP 17603 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 17603
Lancaster (17603)
61,973 residents
- 17602
Lancaster (17602)
52,452 residents
- 17601
Lancaster (17601)
49,779 residents
- 17551 10,857
Millersville (17551)
10,857 residents
- 17584 8,957
Willow Street (17584)
8,957 residents
- 17554 7,525
Mountville (17554)
7,525 residents
- 17538 6,045
Landisville (17538)
6,045 residents
- 17520 4,686
East Petersburg (17520)
4,686 residents
- 17516 4,496
Conestoga (17516)
4,496 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 17603 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 17603 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 17565
Pequea (17565)
$125,313 median income
- 17584
Willow Street (17584)
$108,723 median income
- 17516
Conestoga (17516)
$103,942 median income
- 17601
Lancaster (17601)
$102,435 median income
- 17582
Washington Boro (17582)
$100,263 median income
- 17554
Mountville (17554)
$98,431 median income
- 17520
East Petersburg (17520)
$93,235 median income
- 17538
Landisville (17538)
$86,719 median income
- 17603
Lancaster (17603)
$77,084 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 17603 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17551 | Millersville, PA | 10,857 | 2.6 mi |
| 17520 | East Petersburg, PA | 4,686 | 5.9 mi |
| 17516 | Conestoga, PA | 4,496 | 5.2 mi |
| 17601 | Lancaster, PA | 49,779 | 4.6 mi |
| 17554 | Mountville, PA | 7,525 | 4.3 mi |
| 17602 | Lancaster, PA | 52,452 | 5.6 mi |
| 17582 | Washington Boro, PA | 2,026 | 5.7 mi |
| 17565 | Pequea, PA | 2,537 | 8.0 mi |
| 17538 | Landisville, PA | 6,045 | 6.2 mi |
| 17584 | Willow Street, PA | 8,957 | 5.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 17603, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (61,973 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lancaster County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 17603 in?
ZIP code 17603 (Lancaster) is located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Lancaster County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lancaster-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 17603?
ZIP code 17603 in Lancaster, PA has a population of 61,973 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 17603?
The median household income in ZIP 17603 is $77,084, which is 1% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 17603?
The median home value in ZIP 17603 is $262,400, which is 6% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 17603?
The largest racial group in ZIP 17603 is White at 62.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 27.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 17603?
ZIP code 17603 has 1,501 business establishments employing approximately 26,331 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 17603?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 17603 are: Retail trade (213), Other services (except public administration) (194), Health care and social assistance (185). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 17603?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 17603 increased by 7.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 208%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 17603?
In ZIP code 17603, 69.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 37.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 17603?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 17603 is 23.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 17603?
In ZIP code 17603, approximately 61.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 38.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 17603?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 17603 is 13.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 17603's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 17603 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lancaster, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.