Lancaster receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Niagara Falls
Lancaster
Opportunity
28 · Bottom 5%
vs50 · Bottom 37%
Growth
29 · Bottom 16%
vs23 · Bottom 10%
Climate
61 · Bottom 17%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Physical resilience
77 · Top 29%
vs80 · Top 25%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 19%
vs99 · Top 10%
Schools
14 · Bottom 5%
vs55 · Top 45%
Access
92 · Top 50%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
33 · Bottom 10%
vs74 · Top 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Niagara Falls | Lancaster | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,987 | 10,113 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $49,101 | $66,148 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,707 | $41,240 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,408/sq mi | 3,721/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $115,300 | $202,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $823 | $969 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.5% | 73.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 26.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 23.7% | 6.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3 | 1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 0.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 200.0% | 0.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.0" | 40.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 20.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.8 | 45.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.15 | 12.33 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 14.7% | 44.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 29.3% | 59.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 72.8% | 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
Niagara Falls
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
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.
Niagara Falls
54
Your Score
51
Area Score
Lancaster
68
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Niagara Falls, NY · Lancaster, NY · How this is calculated: methodology