Signals
Cheektowaga
Lancaster
Climate
62 · Bottom 23%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 25%
vs80 · Top 25%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 11%
vs99 · Top 10%
Schools
37 · Bottom 31%
vs55 · Top 45%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
62 · Top 46%
vs74 · Top 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Cheektowaga | Lancaster | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,056 | 10,113 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,613 | $66,148 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,961 | $41,240 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,997/sq mi | 3,721/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $185,500 | $202,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,055 | $969 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.1% | 73.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 26.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 6.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 80°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.7" | 40.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 2 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 20.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.4 | 45.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.94 | 12.33 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 27.0% | 44.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 44.5% | 59.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 62.6% | 29.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Cheektowaga
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Lancaster
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Cheektowaga
73
Your Score
—
Area Score
Lancaster
68
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Cheektowaga, NY · Lancaster, NY · How this is calculated: methodology