Compare towns
Vernon vs Lancaster vs Busti
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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).
Busti has the most affordable homes ($165k 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 | Vernon | Lancaster | Busti |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,219 |
10,113Highest |
7,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +53.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±2.5Highest 17% above NY |
45.1±4.7Lowest 13% above NY |
46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.2 NY: 20.5% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Busti and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
21%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.8%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Busti and Vernon 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% |
29.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$67,292±$9k 22% below NY |
| Vernon and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,100±$11k 52% below NY |
$202,200±$16kHighest 52% below NY |
$164,600±$12kLowest 61% 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±$169 40% below NY |
$1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY |
| Busti and Lancaster 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 |
$3,876 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26%±6.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±19 NY: 52.1% |
55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Busti and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73.7% NY: 54.3% |
72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 1 yr older than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 33% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.2%±3.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±4.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Vernon and Busti 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 | 6 photos → |
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.