What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($202k median).

Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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.

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

Measure	Lancaster	Busti
People
Population	10,113Highest	7,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.1±4.7Lowest 13% above NY	46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY
	Busti and Lancaster 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%	19.9%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Busti and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.8%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Busti and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	29.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Lancaster and Busti 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	$67,292±$9kHighest 22% below NY
	Busti 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	$164,600±$12kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$169Lowest 40% below NY	$1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY
	Busti 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	$3,876Lowest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±19Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Busti and Lancaster 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%	14.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 42% below NY	21 minHighest 35% below NY
Work from home	7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Busti 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.