Compare towns

Lancaster vs Ulster

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 affordable homes ($202k median).
Ulster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

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.

MeasureLancasterUlster
People
Population
10,113Lowest
12,675Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+2.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
45.1±4.7Lowest
13% above NY
45.8±2.2Highest
15% above NY
Ulster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.8%±3.8Highest
NY: 20.5%
17.4%±3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Lancaster and Ulster 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%
22.7%±2.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
Ulster 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%Highest
NY: 40.2%
25.5%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.5Lowest
NY: 7%
3.7%±1.1Highest
NY: 7%
Ulster 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
$79,769±$7kHighest
7% below NY
Ulster 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±$16kLowest
52% below NY
$301,100±$27kHighest
29% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$969±$169Lowest
40% below NY
$1,351±$178Highest
17% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932Lowest
25% below NY
$5,197Highest
21% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±19Lowest
NY: 52.1%
54.7%±10.6Highest
NY: 52.1%
Ulster 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%
11.6%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Highest
NY: 54.3%
69.5%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
7 yrs older than NY
1972Highest
13 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%
12.3%±3Highest
NY: 14.9%
Ulster and Lancaster 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 — #456 of 484 in NY
School district — KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town
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.