Compare towns
Busti vs Parma 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 the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Parma | Harmony | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,452 |
16,111Highest |
2,344Lowest |
10,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY |
40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average |
41.8±7 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% |
25.6%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.9%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Parma and Harmony 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% |
18.3%±2.1 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% NY: 40.2% |
35.9%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% |
4.3%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±1.6 NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.5 NY: 7% |
| Parma 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 22% below NY |
$93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY |
$58,600±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
$66,148±$7k 23% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,600±$12k 61% below NY |
$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY |
$128,300±$15kLowest 70% below NY |
$202,200±$16k 52% below NY |
| Parma and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,085±$106 33% below NY |
$1,216±$111Highest 25% below NY |
$788±$40Lowest 51% below NY |
$969±$169 40% below NY |
| Parma and Busti 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 |
$5,549Highest 16% below NY |
$2,805Lowest 57% below NY |
$4,932 25% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
49.8%±15.2 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% |
8.1% NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
82.3% NY: 54.3% |
84.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 35% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
26 minHighest 21% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Parma and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #88 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL | PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
8.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.