Compare towns
Lenox vs Lancaster vs Verona
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Verona has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Verona |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,658 |
10,113Highest |
5,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.1±2Lowest 13% above NY |
45.1±4.7Lowest 13% above NY |
45.6±2.2Highest 15% above NY |
| Verona and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.5%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Verona and Lenox 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%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
20%±3.4Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
26.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.3%±0.9Lowest 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±$8k 12% below NY |
$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY |
$83,534±$11kHighest about the NY average |
| Verona and Lenox 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 |
$196,700±$21k 54% below NY |
| Lancaster and Verona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $935±$83 42% below NY |
$969±$169Highest 40% below NY |
$797±$134Lowest 51% 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 | $4,184 36% below NY |
$4,932Highest 25% below NY |
$3,382Lowest 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±9.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±19Highest NY: 52.1% |
45%±14.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Lancaster and Verona 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% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.2% NY: 54.3% |
73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 25% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
19 min 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 8%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
7%±3.1 NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±1.3Lowest 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 | — | #311 of 484 in NY |
| School district | ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · SHERRILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL | — | VERNON-VERONA-SHERRILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.4Lowest |
| 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.