What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lockport has the most affordable homes ($235k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lockport	Wheatfield
People
Population	20,516Highest	18,549Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.5±2.2Lowest 12% 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%	22.5%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wheatfield and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±2.3Lowest 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%	35.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	5%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,099±$6kLowest about the NY average	$93,682±$6kHighest 9% above NY
	Wheatfield and Lockport 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	$314,900±$19kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$729±$71Lowest 55% below NY	$989±$87Highest 39% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,484Lowest 17% below NY	$5,735Highest 13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.6%±10.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	61.8%±11.9Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest NY: 14%	5.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 24 yrs newer than NY	1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 31% below NY	23 minHighest 29% below NY
Work from home	9.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wheatfield and Lockport 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

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.