Compare towns
Busti vs Middlesex vs Harmony vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Busti has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Harmony | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,452 |
1,943Lowest |
2,344 |
10,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.8±7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.1±4.7 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harmony and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,292±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$58,600±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$66,148±$7k 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,600±$12k 51% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$128,300±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$202,200±$16k 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,085±$106 23% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$788±$40Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$969±$169 31% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,876 24% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,805Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$4,932 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.