Compare towns
Lockport vs Rapids vs Wheatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lockport has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Rapids has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Wheatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Lockport | Rapids | Wheatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,516Highest |
1,655Lowest |
18,549 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.2 12% above NY |
44±7.7Lowest 11% above NY |
47.3±2.1Highest 19% above NY |
| Wheatfield and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
26%±8.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.5%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Rapids and Wheatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.1%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Wheatfield and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
35.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±0.8 NY: 7% |
1%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,099±$6kLowest about the NY average |
$121,875±$43kHighest 42% above NY |
$93,682±$6k 9% above NY |
| Rapids and Wheatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,500±$10kLowest 45% below NY |
$294,700±$44k 30% below NY |
$314,900±$19kHighest 26% below NY |
| Wheatfield and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $729±$71Lowest 55% below NY |
— | $989±$87Highest 39% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,484Lowest 17% below NY |
$6,522Highest about the NY average |
$5,735 13% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.6%±10.2 NY: 52.1% |
0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.8%±11.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NY: 14% |
5%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78% NY: 54.3% |
90%Highest NY: 54.3% |
76.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1985 26 yrs newer than NY |
1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 31% below NY |
25 minHighest 25% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.1%±14.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Rapids and Wheatfield 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 | #289 of 484 in NY | — | #9 of 484 in NY |
| School district | LOCKPORT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD 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 |
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.