Compare towns
Plattsburgh vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,830Highest |
10,144 |
10,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±1.9 16% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plattsburgh and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,900±$11kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$202,200±$16k 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,053±$86 25% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$969±$169Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,573Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,932 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 484 in NY | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.