What stands out worked out from the figures below

Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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.

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

Measure	Busti	Lancaster
People
Population	7,452Lowest	10,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY	45.1±4.7Lowest 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%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Busti and Lancaster 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%	21%±4.5Lowest 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%	26.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Lancaster and Busti 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	$66,148±$7kLowest 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±$12kLowest 61% below NY	$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY	$969±$169Lowest 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	$3,876Lowest 41% below NY	$4,932Highest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1%	52%±19Lowest 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%	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	73.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 35% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%	7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Busti 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.