Compare towns
Busti vs Harmony vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($202k 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.
| Measure | Busti | Harmony | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,452 |
2,344Lowest |
10,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY |
41.8±7Lowest 5% above NY |
45.1±4.7 13% above NY |
| Busti and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
22.9%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Harmony and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Busti and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±1.6 NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.5Highest 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 | $67,292±$9kHighest 22% below NY |
$58,600±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
$66,148±$7k 23% below NY |
| Busti and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,600±$12k 61% below NY |
$128,300±$15kLowest 70% below NY |
$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY |
$788±$40Lowest 51% below NY |
$969±$169 40% below NY |
| Busti and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,876 41% below NY |
$2,805Lowest 57% below NY |
$4,932Highest 25% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
43%±18.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±19 NY: 52.1% |
| Busti and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 35% below NY |
26 minHighest 21% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Busti 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 | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.