Compare towns
Plattsburgh vs Wheatfield 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 the most affordable homes ($180k median).
Wheatfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Wheatfield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,830 |
18,549Highest |
10,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% NY: +4.2% |
+2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.2±1.9 14% above NY |
47.3±2.1Highest 19% above NY |
45.1±4.7Lowest 13% above NY |
| Wheatfield and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±2.5 NY: 20.5% |
22.5%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wheatfield and Plattsburgh 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% |
23.1%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
21%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Plattsburgh and Wheatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% NY: 40.2% |
35.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.5 NY: 7% |
| Wheatfield 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 17% below NY |
$93,682±$6kHighest 9% above NY |
$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,900±$11kLowest 58% below NY |
$314,900±$19kHighest 26% below NY |
$202,200±$16k 52% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,053±$86Highest 35% below NY |
$989±$87 39% below NY |
$969±$169Lowest 40% below NY |
| Plattsburgh and Wheatfield 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 |
$5,735Highest 13% below NY |
$4,932 25% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.8%±11.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±19 NY: 52.1% |
| Wheatfield 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 NY: 14% |
5.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1% NY: 54.3% |
76.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 21 yrs newer than NY |
1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 43% below NY |
23 minHighest 29% below NY |
19 min 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Wheatfield and Plattsburgh 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 | #9 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL 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.