Compare towns

Lancaster vs Cairo vs Vernon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Cairo has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.8%).

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.

MeasureLancasterCairoVernon
People
Population
10,113Highest
6,700Lowest
8,219
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-0.4%
NY: +4.2%
+53.8%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
45.1±4.7
13% above NY
44.2±4.2Lowest
11% above NY
46.6±2.5Highest
17% above NY
Vernon 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%
17.9%±3.5Highest
NY: 20.5%
17.9%±2.2Highest
NY: 20.5%
Age 65+
21%±4.5Lowest
NY: 17.9%
22.9%±4.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
22.8%±2.3
NY: 17.9%
Cairo and Vernon 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%
28.9%
NY: 40.2%
30%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.5Lowest
NY: 7%
3.7%±1.5
NY: 7%
4.8%±1.1Highest
NY: 7%
Vernon and Cairo 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
$79,643±$22kHighest
7% below NY
$77,601±$6k
10% below NY
Cairo and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$202,200±$16k
52% below NY
$263,400±$18kHighest
38% below NY
$202,100±$11kLowest
52% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$969±$169
40% below NY
$1,015±$305Highest
37% below NY
$900±$127Lowest
44% below NY
Cairo 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
$4,246
35% below NY
$3,656Lowest
44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±19Highest
NY: 52.1%
45.1%±16.2
NY: 52.1%
26%±6.6Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Lancaster and Cairo 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%
10.5%Highest
NY: 14%
8.5%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
75.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
74%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
7 yrs older than NY
1973Highest
14 yrs newer than NY
1958
1 yr older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
42% below NY
29 minHighest
13% below NY
22 min
33% below NY
Work from home
7%±3.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
11.1%±6.2
NY: 14.9%
13.2%±3.8Highest
NY: 14.9%
Vernon and Cairo 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 — #461 of 484 in NY #368 of 484 in NY
School district — CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SHERRILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None 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.