Compare towns
Lenox vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($202k median).
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 | Lenox | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 8,658Lowest |
10,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.1±2 13% above NY |
45.1±4.7 13% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Lenox and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
21%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Lenox and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $75,900±$8kHighest 12% below NY |
$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY |
| Lenox and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$9kLowest 62% below NY |
$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $935±$83Lowest 42% below NY |
$969±$169Highest 40% below NY |
| Lancaster and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,184Lowest 36% below NY |
$4,932Highest 25% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±9.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±19Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Lancaster and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 25% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 8%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Lenox 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 | #412 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.