Gallon measure, 1976
Buchanan’s story
136 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,346 in 1930, 2,302 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 1976 and 6 maps from 1892 on.
- 1890Buchanan is settled
BuchananNY
A town of 2,629, settled in 1890.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Jguard18 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
2,629
2025 Census estimate · +14.3% since 2020
Typical home
$613K
+4.5% in a year
Household income
$128K
median
Median age
38.5
years
Jobs based here
844
Balanced
TownGrade
A
#120 of 745 in NY
Is Buchanan a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Buchanan grades A overall, ranked 120th of 745 in New York. The median household earns $128K. Residents are healthier than 96% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. What holds it back is price: the typical home is worth about $613K, 6.2 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household income. Only 106 of New York’s 1,216 towns score higher on hazard risk. Buchanan is more walkable than 81% of U.S. towns. On history, just 70 of New York’s 1,216 towns do worse.
What makes Buchanan stand out
Where Buchanan beats most towns.
How Buchanan grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New York), ordered by how far Buchanan is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for jobs and income (better than 96% of comparable towns) to D for cost of living (better than 8%), so the A overall blends very different results.
Jobs & incomeA+Open →HealthHudson Valley Hospital Center 3.4 miles awayA+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 8% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA+Open →Cost of livingDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.8 of 20; 3.9% of households have no car; 2.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →SchoolsBeat 69% of New York districts on tests and graduationB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 6% conserved landA−Open →History1 notable person born hereC+Open →Civic life3.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 86° summer afternoons, 36″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 38.5–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 612 attractions →United States Military Academy and 458 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Buchanan. Close and well known come first.
Big draw9 mi MuseumUnited States Military Academy
Big draw33 mi GardenCentral Park40.0M visitors a year
Big draw36 mi Stadium & arenaMadison Square Garden
Big draw32 mi Stadium & arenaMetLife Stadium
Big draw35 mi TheatreStudio 54
Big draw33 mi MuseumMetropolitan Museum of Art2.0M visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
United States Military Academy: USMA Public Affairs Office, Public domain · Central Park: Ed Yourdon from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Madison Square Garden: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0 · MetLife Stadium: babyknight, CC BY 2.0 · Studio 54: Americasroof (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Metropolitan Museum of Art: Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Buchanan: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Buchanan, and how to reach them.
PowerCon Edison36.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBuchanan Village water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Buchanan’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWestchester County Board of ElectionsWestchester County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code1051110511 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Buchanan.
Buchanan has less food insecurity than most of New York, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of New York and has lost a quarter or more of its jobs in ten years.
HealthA+
For health, Buchanan earns an A+
Its widest gap with New York is food insecurity: 9.6% of its 1,826 adults worry about having enough food, against 17.2% statewide.
25% of adults have obesity in Buchanan, below both the New York town median (33%) and the median of U.S. towns (35%). 17% of Buchanan adults have been diagnosed with depression. Buchanan beats the New York average on 21 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
96%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Buchanan | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 33% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 21% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 34% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. New York
21 better11 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Buchanan | NY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.6% | 17.2% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 5.6% | 8.6% |
Hudson Valley Hospital Center
3.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
91st
percentile among NY towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
Buchanan faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 92% of U.S. communities.
8risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesEarthquakes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Buchanan has four seasons and pleasant summers
Buchanan has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. Buchanan’s July high is 86°F, where New York’s towns sit at 81°F and U.S. towns at 85°F.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–40°
Spring39–61°
Summer62–83°
Fall44–65°
Nov 1
typical first frost
Apr 10
typical last frost
+2.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D
For cost of living, Buchanan earns a D
At 6.2 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household income, the typical home (about $613K) costs more against local pay than in 83% of New York towns; that ratio is one input to its D for cost of living. At about $613K, home values are up 6% in five years, against a rise of 30% across New York.
Buchanan’s median rent is $1,953 a month. Typical home values rose 4.5% in the year to September 2026. 87% of households own their home in Buchanan.
$613KZillow home value
| Buchanan | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,953 a month | $1,098 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 87% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Buchanan$613K
New York$525K
+4.5%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in April
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
With 0.8 jobs for every working resident, most of Buchanan’s workers commute out
Jobs based here fell from 1,780 in 2013 to 844.
Most working residents leave Buchanan for work: only 4% work in town. The average trip to work in Buchanan is 33 minutes. Since 2013, Buchanan has lost 936 jobs, to 844 in 2023.
4%work in town
| Buchanan | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $128,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4% | 10% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Buchanan4%
New York28%
Cortlandt17%
Mount Pleasant6%
Peekskill5%
20 mi
median commute distance
844
jobs based in Buchanan
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 81% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Buchanan
Buchanan's reported crime rate is well below New York's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. No violent crimes were reported in 2025.
| Buchanan | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.2 per 1,000 residents | 7.6 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Buchanan0
New York3.7
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Buchanan2.2
New York15.7
U.S.15.5
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
5
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
An age mix much like New York’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the New York average. Buchanan has grown 14% since 2020, to 2,629 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 48% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 40% across New York.
38.5median age · NY 39.8
| Buchanan | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 48% | 32% | 29% |
| Median age | 38.5 years | 43 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 23% | 20% | 22% |
BuchananNew YorkUnited States
Ages · share of residents
13%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school24%
Some college12%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s32%
Graduate16%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 42% and 66% women
The Census survey reached too few of Buchanan’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±12 points. Across New York, 51.2% of residents are women.
| Buchanan | NY | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.2% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.8% | 9.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 10.7% | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.8% | 14.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.4% | 13% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.7% | 13.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.3% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.9% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.6% | 12% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.2% | 24.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 12.2% | 14.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.9% | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 32.3% | 22.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 15.9% | 17.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,600, single groups can be off by several points
OutdoorsA−
5.7% of Buchanan is conserved land
0.5 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The biggest park or preserve is Lents Cove Park, at 57 acres.
5.7%conserved
| Buchanan | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5.7% | 5.2% | 4.3% |
5.7%
conserved · 64 of 1,113 acres
0.5 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lents Cove Park | 0.2 mi | 57 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Buchanan
20pages on Buchanan
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 69% of NY districtsSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA+Better than NY on 21 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD$613K typical home · up 4.5% in a yearWork & commuteA+$128K median household income · 844 jobs hereNatural hazardsA+FEMA risk higher than 8% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
21 within 15 miles of the center of Buchanan
Ohr Hameir Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Peekskill2.9 mi$10,150 tuitionUnited States Military AcademyUniversity or college · Public · West Point8.7 miRockland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Suffern11.6 mi$6,862 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Buchanan residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New York.
About Buchanan
Village in New York, United States
Buchanan is a village located in the town of Cortlandt in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 2,302 as of the 2020 census. The now decommissioned Indian Point nuclear power facility is located in Buchanan. The 2000 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree also came from Buchanan. The 80-foot tall Norway spruce was donated by Bill and Frances Heady. Bill Heady planted the tree in 1950.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1928
- Area
- 1.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 39 ft
- ZIP code
- 10511
Buchanan’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Buchanan.
It grades higher overall than all 3 graded towns on its borders; Cortlandt (A−) comes closest.
CortlandtPeekskillMontroseVerplanckStony PointBuchanan
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NY rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan | #120 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
| Cortlandt | #155 | A− | D | — | A− | A |
| Peekskill | #495 | C+ | D− | B− | C− | A− |
| Montrose | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Verplanck | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Stony Point | #280 | B | D | A | C | A |
Buchanan and Cortlandt report no FBI crime data of their own. Montrose and Verplanck aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Buchanan with a neighbor →
Questions about Buchanan
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Buchanan, NY a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Buchanan grades A overall, better than 86% of U.S. towns and #120 of 745 in New York. It grades A+ for health and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Buchanan, NY expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.