Compare towns
Ulster 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
Ulster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Lancaster has the most affordable 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.
| Measure | Ulster | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 12,675Highest |
10,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.2Highest 15% above NY |
45.1±4.7Lowest 13% above NY |
| Ulster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lancaster and Ulster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
21%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Ulster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Ulster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $79,769±$7kHighest 7% below NY |
$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY |
| Ulster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,100±$27kHighest 29% below NY |
$202,200±$16kLowest 52% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,351±$178Highest 17% below NY |
$969±$169Lowest 40% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Highest 21% below NY |
$4,932Lowest 25% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±10.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±19Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Ulster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
73.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 35% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Ulster 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 | #456 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | KINGSTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.