Compare towns

Lancaster vs Plattsburgh vs Depew

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 most renters (26.3% rent).
Plattsburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Depew has the most people working from home (9.2%).

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.

MeasureLancasterPlattsburghDepew
People
Population
10,113Lowest
11,830
15,000Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+0.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-0.8%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
45.1±4.7
13% above NY
45.2±1.9Highest
14% above NY
43.4±2Lowest
9% above NY
Plattsburgh 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%
19.7%±2.5Highest
NY: 20.5%
18.4%±2.4
NY: 20.5%
Plattsburgh and Depew are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±4.5
NY: 17.9%
23.7%±2.7Highest
NY: 17.9%
20.9%±3Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Plattsburgh 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%
NY: 40.2%
27.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
25.1%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.5
NY: 7%
3%±0.8Lowest
NY: 7%
4.7%±1.1Highest
NY: 7%
Depew 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
$71,546±$5k
17% below NY
$73,556±$8kHighest
14% below NY
Depew and Plattsburgh 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
$179,900±$11kLowest
58% below NY
$196,500±$8k
54% below NY
Lancaster and Depew 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
$1,053±$86
35% below NY
$1,061±$77Highest
35% below NY
Depew and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932
25% below NY
$3,573Lowest
46% below NY
$5,458Highest
17% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±19
NY: 52.1%
38.9%±12.5Lowest
NY: 52.1%
54.6%±10.4Highest
NY: 52.1%
Depew 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%
10.4%Highest
NY: 14%
9.4%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
76.1%
NY: 54.3%
76.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
7 yrs older than NY
1980Highest
21 yrs newer than NY
1961
2 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
42% below NY
19 minLowest
43% below NY
19 minHighest
42% below NY
Work from home
7%±3.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
7.6%±3.2
NY: 14.9%
9.2%±2.1Highest
NY: 14.9%
Depew and Plattsburgh 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 — #153 of 484 in NY —
School district — BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school 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.