What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hastings has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.1%).

Lenox has the shortest commute (25 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	Hastings	Lenox
People
Population	9,345Highest	8,658Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.1±3.7Lowest 8% above NY	45.1±2Highest 13% above NY
	Lenox and Hastings are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lenox and Hastings are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.9%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	3.5%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Hastings and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,027±$8kHighest about the NY average	$75,900±$8kLowest 12% below NY
	Hastings and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,700±$17kHighest 56% below NY	$161,600±$9kLowest 62% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$917±$129Lowest 43% below NY	$935±$83Highest 42% below NY
	Lenox and Hastings are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,565Highest 31% below NY	$4,184Lowest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±11.8Highest NY: 52.1%	38.5%±9.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hastings and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest NY: 14%	10.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% below NY	25 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	8.9%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hastings and Lenox 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	#328 of 484 in NY	#412 of 484 in NY
School district	CENTRAL SQUARE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PAUL V MOORE HIGH SCHOOL	CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.6Highest
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.