Compare towns
Lancaster vs Strafford vs Plattsburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering LancasterDepew
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Plattsburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Strafford | Plattsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,113 |
1,372Lowest |
11,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.2±1.9 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plattsburgh and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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 18% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$71,546±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,200±$16k 39% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$179,900±$11kLowest 46% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$169Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,053±$86 25% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,573Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #153 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.