What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

Brookfield has the most people working from home (11.5%).

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	Lancaster	Brookfield
People
Population	10,113Highest	2,150Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.1±4.7Highest 13% above NY	41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY
	Lancaster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Lancaster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY	$69,205±$9kHighest 20% below NY
	Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY	$152,800±$28kLowest 64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$169Lowest 40% below NY	$981±$75Highest 39% below NY
	Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Highest 25% below NY	$3,197Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±19Highest NY: 52.1%	51.4%±35.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lancaster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%	16.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 42% below NY	36 minHighest 11% above NY
Work from home	7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Brookfield 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.