Compare towns
Arcadia vs Lyons vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arcadia has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Lyons has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Peru has the most expensive homes ($203k 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 | Arcadia | Lyons | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,601Highest |
5,594Lowest |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.7±3.1Highest 10% above NY |
41.1±5.4 3% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Arcadia and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Arcadia and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21% NY: 40.2% |
33.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Peru and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,398±$5kLowest 26% below NY |
$74,524±$12k 13% below NY |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
| Peru and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,400±$12k 65% below NY |
$98,400±$12kLowest 77% below NY |
$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$86 38% below NY |
$920±$111Lowest 43% below NY |
$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY |
| Peru and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 40% below NY |
$2,998Lowest 54% below NY |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±11.5 NY: 52.1% |
35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.9%Highest NY: 14% |
14.3% NY: 14% |
8.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.9% NY: 54.3% |
82.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 30% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Lyons and Peru 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 | #301 of 484 in NY | #388 of 484 in NY | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | NEWARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | NEWARK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.