What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most people working from home (11.5%).

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookfield	Lancaster
People
Population	2,150Lowest	10,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY	45.1±4.7Highest 13% above NY
	Lancaster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	21%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Lancaster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,205±$9kHighest 20% below NY	$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY
	Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,800±$28kLowest 64% below NY	$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$75Highest 39% below NY	$969±$169Lowest 40% below NY
	Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,197Lowest 51% below NY	$4,932Highest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±35.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	52%±19Highest NY: 52.1%
	Lancaster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest NY: 14%	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 11% above NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.