Compare towns

Brookfield vs Lancaster vs Harmony

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($202k median).
Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k median).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldLancasterHarmony
People
Population
2,150Lowest
10,113Highest
2,344
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-3.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-3.9%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
41.2±6.1Lowest
4% above NY
45.1±4.7Highest
13% above NY
41.8±7
5% above NY
Lancaster and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±4.9
NY: 20.5%
17.8%±3.8Lowest
NY: 20.5%
22.9%±3.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
Harmony and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±4
NY: 17.9%
21%±4.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
17.7%±2.1Lowest
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%
17.1%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3Lowest
NY: 7%
3.4%±1.5Highest
NY: 7%
3%±1.6
NY: 7%
Lancaster and Harmony 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±$7k
23% below NY
$58,600±$11kLowest
32% 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±$28k
64% below NY
$202,200±$16kHighest
52% below NY
$128,300±$15kLowest
70% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$981±$75Highest
39% below NY
$969±$169
40% below NY
$788±$40Lowest
51% 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
$3,197
51% below NY
$4,932Highest
25% below NY
$2,805Lowest
57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.4%±35.6
NY: 52.1%
52%±19Highest
NY: 52.1%
43%±18.6Lowest
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%
9.1%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%
NY: 54.3%
73.7%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
84.6%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
19 yrs newer than NY
1952Lowest
7 yrs older than NY
1975
16 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
11% above NY
19 minLowest
42% below NY
26 min
21% below NY
Work from home
11.5%±4.1Highest
NY: 14.9%
7%±3.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
8.1%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
Brookfield and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.5
On TownTapestry
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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.