What stands out worked out from the figures below

Depew has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 45.1).

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	Depew	Lancaster
People
Population	15,000Highest	10,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.4±2Lowest 9% above NY	45.1±4.7Highest 13% above NY
	Lancaster and Depew are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Depew and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±3Lowest NY: 17.9%	21%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Depew are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Depew and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,556±$8kHighest 14% below NY	$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY
	Depew and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,500±$8kLowest 54% below NY	$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY
	Lancaster and Depew are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,061±$77Highest 35% below NY	$969±$169Lowest 40% below NY
	Depew and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,458Highest 17% below NY	$4,932Lowest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.6%±10.4Highest NY: 52.1%	52%±19Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Depew and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest NY: 14%	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 2 yrs newer than NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 42% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	9.2%±2.1Highest NY: 14.9%	7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Depew and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.