Compare towns
Lancaster vs Vernon 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.8%).
Depew has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Vernon | Depew |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,113 |
8,219Lowest |
15,000Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+53.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.1±4.7 13% above NY |
46.6±2.5Highest 17% above NY |
43.4±2Lowest 9% 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%±2.2 NY: 20.5% |
18.4%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Depew and Vernon 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% |
22.8%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.9%±3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Vernon 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% |
30%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
4.7%±1.1 NY: 7% |
| Vernon and Depew 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 |
$77,601±$6kHighest 10% below NY |
$73,556±$8k 14% below NY |
| Vernon and Depew 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 |
$202,100±$11k 52% below NY |
$196,500±$8kLowest 54% below NY |
| Lancaster and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$169 40% below NY |
$900±$127Lowest 44% below NY |
$1,061±$77Highest 35% below NY |
| Depew and Lancaster 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 |
$3,656Lowest 44% below NY |
$5,458Highest 17% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±19 NY: 52.1% |
26%±6.6Lowest 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% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
9.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74% NY: 54.3% |
76.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1958 1 yr older than NY |
1961Highest 2 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 42% below NY |
22 minHighest 33% below NY |
19 min 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±3.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.2%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Vernon and Depew 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 | — | #368 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | SHERRILL CITY 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.