Compare towns
Oneida vs Lancaster vs Herkimer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oneida has the most kids (19% under 18).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Herkimer has the most affordable homes ($136k 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 | Oneida | Lancaster | Herkimer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,171Highest |
10,113 |
9,534Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47±2.4Highest 18% above NY |
45.1±4.7Lowest 13% above NY |
45.6±3.4 15% above NY |
| Oneida and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
16.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Oneida and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Herkimer and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% NY: 40.2% |
26.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
7.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,597±$6k 28% below NY |
$66,148±$7kHighest 23% below NY |
$56,287±$14kLowest 35% below NY |
| Lancaster and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $160,100±$9k 62% below NY |
$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY |
$136,300±$22kLowest 68% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $903±$77 44% below NY |
$969±$169Highest 40% below NY |
$820±$74Lowest 49% below NY |
| Lancaster and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,778 43% below NY |
$4,932Highest 25% below NY |
$3,453Lowest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
52%±19Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±15.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Lancaster and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3% NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
21.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% NY: 54.3% |
73.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
59.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 13 yrs older than NY |
1952Highest 7 yrs older than NY |
1944Lowest 15 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 41% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
22 minHighest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 8%±1.5 NY: 14.9% |
7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Herkimer and Oneida 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 | #106 of 484 in NY | — | #363 of 484 in NY |
| School district | ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | ONEIDA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| 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.