Compare towns
Erwin vs Lancaster vs Ballston Spa
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Lancaster has the most homeowners (73.7%).
Ballston Spa has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Erwin | Lancaster | Ballston Spa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,965 |
10,113Highest |
5,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-5.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.8±2 10% above NY |
45.1±4.7Highest 13% above NY |
42.7±3.3Lowest 7% above NY |
| Lancaster and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.5%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Ballston Spa and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
21%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.1%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
45.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4.1%±2.5 NY: 7% |
| Erwin and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,333±$16k about the NY average |
$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY |
$101,667±$15kHighest 18% above NY |
| Ballston Spa and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,700±$26k 47% below NY |
$202,200±$16kLowest 52% below NY |
$308,200±$29kHighest 27% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$136Highest 22% below NY |
$969±$169Lowest 40% below NY |
$1,122±$238 31% below NY |
| Erwin and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829Highest 11% below NY |
$4,932Lowest 25% below NY |
$5,335 19% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±14Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±19 NY: 52.1% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Erwin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% NY: 54.3% |
73.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 54% below NY |
19 min 42% below NY |
25 minHighest 24% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.6%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Ballston Spa and Erwin 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 | #431 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.