Compare towns
Plattsburgh vs Milton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plattsburgh has the most affordable homes ($180k median).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Lancaster has the most renters (26.3% rent).
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 | Plattsburgh | Milton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,830Highest |
10,769 |
10,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±1.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.6±2.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.1±4.7 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,546±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,900±$11kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$372,500±$20kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$202,200±$16k 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,053±$86 25% below U.S. |
$1,536±$257Highest 9% above U.S. |
$969±$169Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,573Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,610Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,932 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 484 in NY | #56 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Milton School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.