What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.8%).

Lancaster has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Vernon	Lancaster
People
Population	8,219Lowest	10,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+53.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±2.5Highest 17% above NY	45.1±4.7Lowest 13% above NY
	Vernon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±2.2Highest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Vernon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9%	21%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Vernon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	3.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Vernon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,601±$6kHighest 10% below NY	$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY
	Vernon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,100±$11kLowest 52% below NY	$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY
	Lancaster and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$127Lowest 44% below NY	$969±$169Highest 40% below NY
	Lancaster and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,656Lowest 44% below NY	$4,932Highest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26%±6.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	52%±19Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest NY: 14%	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 1 yr older than NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 33% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	13.2%±3.8Highest NY: 14.9%	7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Vernon 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	#368 of 484 in NY	—
School district	SHERRILL 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.