Compare towns

Plattsburgh 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

Plattsburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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.

MeasurePlattsburghLancaster
People
Population
11,830Highest
10,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-3.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
45.2±1.9Highest
14% above NY
45.1±4.7Lowest
13% above NY
Plattsburgh and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±2.5Highest
NY: 20.5%
17.8%±3.8Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Plattsburgh and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±2.7Highest
NY: 17.9%
21%±4.5Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Plattsburgh and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
26.6%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±0.8Lowest
NY: 7%
3.4%±1.5Highest
NY: 7%
Lancaster and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,546±$5kHighest
17% below NY
$66,148±$7kLowest
23% below NY
Plattsburgh and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$179,900±$11kLowest
58% below NY
$202,200±$16kHighest
52% below NY
Lancaster and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,053±$86Highest
35% below NY
$969±$169Lowest
40% below NY
Plattsburgh and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,573Lowest
46% below NY
$4,932Highest
25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.9%±12.5Lowest
NY: 52.1%
52%±19Highest
NY: 52.1%
Lancaster and Plattsburgh 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
76.1%Highest
NY: 54.3%
73.7%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
21 yrs newer than NY
1952Lowest
7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
43% below NY
19 minHighest
42% below NY
Work from home
7.6%±3.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
7%±3.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Plattsburgh 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 #153 of 484 in NY —
School district BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town None in town —
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.