What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chittenango has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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.

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

Measure	Chittenango	Lancaster
People
Population	4,831Lowest	10,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41±4.5Lowest 3% above NY	45.1±4.7Highest 13% above NY
	Lancaster and Chittenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Chittenango and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	21%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Chittenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Lancaster and Chittenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,786±$7kHighest 18% below NY	$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY
	Chittenango and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$182,500±$17kLowest 57% below NY	$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY
	Lancaster and Chittenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$782±$189Lowest 52% below NY	$969±$169Highest 40% below NY
	Lancaster and Chittenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest 24% below NY	$4,932Lowest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±17.2Highest NY: 52.1%	52%±19Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Chittenango and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.6%Highest NY: 14%	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	73.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 19% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	8.2%±2.8Highest NY: 14.9%	7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Chittenango 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.