About This Project

This site was created to understand whether Lancaster is providing affordable housing by gathering data directly from the community.

By sharing real household information, we can build a clearer picture of housing costs across the city.

Housing affordability is a growing challenge everywhere. When we work together and contribute anonymous data, we create the evidence needed to better measure affordability in Lancaster.

Resident-provided data helps turn lived experience into insight that can guide planning and local initiatives.

Colorful rainbow-shaped playground arches in a park, with a fence, houses, trees, and a building in the background on a sunny day.
Community notice board outside a brick building with a blue door and decorated steps. A black trash can labeled "Sowel" is in the foreground.

1: Why This Matters

Housing costs have risen significantly over the past decade.

  1. Many residents are unsure whether their rent is “fair” compared to other units in the city.

  2. A transparent, neutral tool helps households make informed decisions and provides context for community discussions.

Row of colorful residential buildings with parked cars on the street, overhead utility lines, and a stop sign in the background.

  1. Enter Your Information
    Input your monthly rent, unit size, and your annual household income.

  2. *Your responses are anonymous and secure.

  3. Contribute to the Community
    Once submitted, your data is combined with other entries to help build a clearer picture of housing affordability in Lancaster, PA.

2: How It Works (Data Contribution Focus)

A row of colorful houses with porches and parked cars along a street, with a tall stone church tower in the background and overhead power lines.

  1. Anonymous: We do not collect names, addresses, or identifying information.

  2. Secure: Your input is used only to generate results or aggregate community data.

  3. Open: Findings will be shared in a simple, easy-to-understand format to inform residents and policymakers.

3: Data Privacy & Transparency

A row of colorful townhouses with porches along a street, parked cars in front, and a stone church tower in the background under a clear blue sky.

4: Our Goal

We aim to:

  • Help residents understand housing affordability.

  • Collect enough data to reflect real community patterns.

  • Foster informed discussions about housing, rent, and equitable access in Lancaster, PA.

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