An aerospace community at the heart of the Antelope Valley
Surrounded by the Tehachapi Mountains to the north and the San Gabriel Mountains to the south, Lancaster is a valley community in the heart of the Antelope Valley and the western Mojave Desert. A growing city of over 165,000, Lancaster offers hope to homebuyers priced out of many California markets. "The number one reason someone will be attracted to our area is that we're one of the most affordable areas in Los Angeles County. You can still get a single-family home and a yard, and it won't cost you a million dollars," says Chenin Dow, the city's assistant director of housing and economic development. "The second reason is our association with the aerospace industry — people come here for the jobs but stay for the sense of community. You can get lost in the shuffle in a big metro area, but getting involved here is easy, and you can see friends everywhere in Antelope Valley."
The aerospace industry dominates Lancaster's economic landscape, with Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman being three of the city's major employers. "We're a military aerospace community, and the last city in LA County north of LA," says Leonard Egstrom, Realtor with eXp Realty of California, Inc. "Proximity is a big reason to choose the city, and people are relocating here for the jobs — they're also commuting to LA." Built in the 1930s, Edwards Air Force Base was the first step in launching the city's aerospace economy. Home to the first landing of the space shuttle, the base created over 10,000 jobs and paved the way for these aerospace giants to plant roots. This, along with NASA's Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center, historic aviation sites and museums, continue to preserve Lancaster's legacy of aeronautical innovation. Beyond aviation, Antelope Valley Hospital, Lancaster School District and the city are also top employers. Additionally, Lancaster is home to five industrial and business parks employing thousands at Fortune 500 companies.
New housing development is a priority in the city of Lancaster.
The unique silhouette of Joshua trees embodies the rugged beauty of arid landscapes in parts of Lancaster.
Aircraft from the Dryden Flight Research Center sits in front of the Lockheed Martin campus near Lancaster.g
The Aerospace Walk of Honor in Lancaster celebrates the achievements of test pilots who have contributed to aviation and aerospace history.
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Affordable homes by California standards
Compared to state numbers, particularly in places well south like Los Angeles, homebuyers can find a home at a bargain price in Lancaster. In January 2025, the median home price was around $500,000, compared to $420,000 nationally and $900,000 in broader California. Housing construction is a priority as the city’s economy grows and attracts new residents. “We’ve seen a huge investment in housing. There are over 10,000 units in the development pipeline, and our housing authority has over 1,000 affordable units in various states of development,” Dow says. “Historically, we’ve been single-family, but we’re seeing multifamily investment in condos, townhomes and apartments.”
Neighborhoods in Lancaster are distinct, offering different things to different types of buyers. Downtown is the place to be if someone is looking for walkability and tightly packed midcentury ranch-style homes. Some homes have garages, most have driveways, though there is plenty of street parking. There are larger properties in Westside, a more rural neighborhood with room to build. There are contemporary Spanish-inspired two-story homes in Joshua and pockets of ranch-style homes built in the 1950s and ‘60s. Just outside downtown, El Dorado is known for single- and multifamily units.
Homes come in a variety of sizes, including these single and two-story Spanish-style homes.
You'll find many contemporary-style homes in Central Lancaster.
You will find many Spanish-style homes in West Lancaster.
This ranch-style home welcomes you with its manicured front yard and large driveway.
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California Poppy Festival attracts over 60,000 annually
The city maintains around a dozen community parks, recreation centers and pools. There is open green space at Jane Reynolds Park, which has an outdoor pool and an activity building ideal for family activities. Among the more extensive state parks, outdoor enthusiasts can hike 8 miles of trails through rolling hills leading to Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park, home to one of the few Joshua tree and juniper woodland habitats left. Another local favorite is Saddleback Butte State Park, which is situated on thousands of acres. The granite mountaintop of Saddleback Butte towers over 3,500 feet as the centerpiece of the park. It is a popular spot for horseback riding, hiking and camping, with panoramic views of the desert and valley at the peak.
The vibrant gem of Lancaster, Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive every spring with a mosaic of wildflowers and countless bright poppies from the Mosaic Desert Grassland habitat. Each spring, upward of 60,000 visitors make their way to the California Poppy Festival to celebrate an abundance of California’s state flower. The event honors the poppy with a festival that includes live entertainment, carnival rides, displays, festival food and live animal exhibits at the AV Fair & Event Center.
Lancaster celebrates the California Poppy Festival yearly at the AV Fair Grounds.
Visitors can stroll along one of many trails at the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve.
Skateboarders have lots of structures to skate on at Jane Reynolds Park.
El Dorado Park has an enclosed soccer area for visitors to play.
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BLVD Cultural District is one of 14 in the state
Once again the heart of the Antelope Valley, Lancaster Boulevard underwent a dramatic revitalization in 2010. In a nod to the city’s aerospace connection, a red-tailed supersonic fighter jet greets visitors as they enter the BLVD Cultural District, one of 14 cultural districts in California. “The Lancaster Performing Arts Center and the Museum of Art and History are two anchor points in our downtown where there is always something happening,” Dow says. Home to over 40 businesses attracted by the lively, upbeat atmosphere, the BLVD is one of the region’s premier destinations for shopping, dining and entertainment. “We have a weekly farmers market and a concert series in the summertime, and the boulevard is magical around Christmastime,” Dow says. The city’s dining scene may not be as well known as LA’s or San Francisco’s, but it’s as diverse and vast as its natural landscape. From Salvadoran and Cuban fare to Mediterranean cafes, tea rooms and traditional delis, there’s something for everyone. While downtown is filled mostly with small businesses, Valley Central and Antelope Valley Mall are the biggest shopping centers in the region.
The Lancaster Performing Arts Center features various events: concerts, comedy, and plays.
People young and old people enjoy themselves on the Summer Concert Series dance floor.
The Museum of Art and History focuses on post-war American art.
You'll find many amazing murals painted on buildings along The BLVD in Central Lancaster.
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Higher than average crime and multiple environmental risks
According to FBI data, violent crime rates in Lancaster are higher than both state and national numbers, and property crime rates are more on par with national and state numbers. Over the last 10 years, the population of Lancaster has increased by over 8%, while the crime rate fell by approximately 11%. “We contract through the LA County Sheriff, but they were slow to respond to quality-of-life issues, so we established a small police department and opened a police station to deal with things the sheriff can’t address,” Dow says. “We’re focused on intelligence and monitoring social media where we identify trends and try to get upstream to flag problems before they happen.”
Lancaster faces several environmental challenges, including the risk of extreme heat, drought, wildfire and poor air quality in warmer months. “Drought may be our biggest concern, but our recycled water system ensures we use our resources to the best of our abilities,” Dow says. In the summer, the weather is hot, arid and clear, with temperatures sometimes bordering on sweltering, and winters are cool and rainy. Water conversation is a priority during the dry months when brushfires are known to occur — the Apollo Fire burned at least 500 acres in the Lancaster area in September 2024. The city encourages drought-resistant, desert-friendly landscaping to save water and reduce fire risk. “We’re focused very heavily on emergency preparedness,” Down says. “We’re actually in the process of groundbreaking on a $90 million regional resiliency and recovery center at the fairgrounds that will be able to house people in the event of a disaster.”
Soar High School is the gem of the Antelope Valley Union High School district
Public school students in grades kindergarten through eighth are part of one of three districts, depending on where they live in the city: Eastside Union Elementary School District, Westside Union School District or Lancaster Elementary School District. “Our elementary school districts offer dual language immersion and Fulton & Alsbury junior high has a focus on STEM,” Dow says. Antelope Valley Union High School District covers all high schools in the city, earning a B from Niche and catering to 22,000 students. Ranked A-plus by Niche, Dow says that “Soar High School is a shining star that is typically ranked in the top 1% of schools nationwide. They have a rigorous program where you’re dual enrolled in college, which is actually on-site, so they graduate with a high school degree and an associate degree.”
Enterprise Elementary School serves students in East Lancaster and the surrounding areas.
The student population at Fulton & Alsbury Academy is 420 and the school serves 6-8.
The student-teacher ratio at Antelope Valley High School is 21:1.
SOAR High School is 1 of 13 high schools in the Antelope Valley Union High.
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Interstate 5 is about 30 miles away via state Route 138
Lancaster lacks direct highway access — Interstate 5 is about 30 miles away via San Francisquito Canyon Road or state Route 138. For regional scale, downtown Los Angeles is about 70 miles south and Bakersfield is about 87 miles north, though most don’t make those commutes. “We have definitely grown, so there’s going to be more traffic, but it isn’t a big struggle,” Dow says. “Parking is easy, traffic flows well and getting around can be a breeze. Most people who work locally have a 15-minute commute or less.” Though residents generally travel by car, there are bus routes on many major thoroughfares operated by the Antelope Valley Transit Authority and multiple bike lanes, including one between the Palmdale Metrolink train station and the Lancaster Metrolink. There are several small, local airfields in the area, like the Palmdale Regional Airport, but the closest major airports are Hollywood Burbank and Van Nuys, both about 60 miles away. Antelope Valley Medical Center is within the city, as are the Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices.
Commitment to clean energy
An environmental efforts leader, Lancaster has a strong commitment to sustainability and clean energy to achieve its goal of becoming the nation’s first net-zero municipality. The city has fully integrated solar energy across its communities with the Solar Lancaster Program, including the Lancaster School, a car dealership, a business park and five city facilities. It's projected to save $6 million over 15 years. Hydrogen technology has been a huge focus for Lancaster since 2020. Hydroplane, which develops and tests hydrogen-powered aircraft, planted roots in the city in 2021, and Element Resources is constructing a renewable hydrogen facility that will produce 20,000 tons annually and is slated to begin operations in 2025. And in 2022, RIDE Mobility opened two electric bus manufacturing facilities in Lancaster.
The sun rises over a solar farm in Lancaster that generates renewable energy for communities.
The implementation of the Solar Lancaster Program can be seen all over the city of Lancaster, including on these condos.
Solar can be seen integrated even at local businesses in Lancaster.
Companies like RIDE Mobility in Lancaster are manufacturing fully electric buses.
As a real estate professional for the past 20 years, Tracey Feder has established herself as responsible, knowledgeable, and caring. She approaches each transaction with an attentive eye for detail that assures her clients they will be represented fairly and accurately.
Tracey grew up in Vermont, where her mother had a real estate brokerage company. She attended Fordham University in New York, traveled extensively throughout Europe, and won awards in competitive downhill skiing and tennis.
“The unifying factor in my professional life is discipline,” Tracey explains. “Success is a combination of careful preparation, focus, hard work, and the ability to listen and communicate clearly. You have to be alert and responsive to the needs of your clients.”
Her friendly and knowledgeable approach has won Tracey the respect of her colleagues and clients alike. Her strong work ethic enabled her to meet her goal to become “the #1 Realtor in sales volume and units sold and top 2% of all agents company-wide” in her previous office at White House Properties. With her new move to Equity Union Real Estate, she is now backed by the leading industry technology resources of Keller Williams. She provides knowledgeable, professional service to buyers and sellers-whatever their real estate needs.
Tracey likes to be known as the real estate agent that goes the extra mile for her clients. She loves a challenge and prides herself on getting the job done. Tracey resides in Studio City with her two daughters, Cara, and Lauren, and their two dogs Rosie and Frankie.
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