What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 45.1).

Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Clay
People
Population	10,113Lowest	59,995Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.1±4.7Highest 13% above NY	39.8±1Lowest about the NY average
	Lancaster and Clay 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%	20.1%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Clay 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%	18.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Clay 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%	38.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±0.7Highest NY: 7%
	Clay and Lancaster 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	$90,707±$6kHighest 6% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,200±$16kLowest 52% below NY	$205,900±$6kHighest 51% below NY
	Clay and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$169Lowest 40% below NY	$1,240±$40Highest 24% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Lowest 25% below NY	$5,087Highest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±19Highest NY: 52.1%	46.6%±5.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lancaster and Clay 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%	8.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	71.2%Lowest 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	21 minHighest 34% below NY
Work from home	7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#249 of 484 in NY
School district	—	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.0
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.