Compare towns

Arcadia vs Ridgeway vs Lyons

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).
Ridgeway has the most expensive homes ($150k median).
Lyons has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).

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.

MeasureArcadiaRidgewayLyons
People
Population
13,601Highest
6,514
5,594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-2.7%
NY: +4.2%
-0.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
43.7±3.1Highest
10% above NY
42.3±3
6% above NY
41.1±5.4Lowest
3% above NY
Arcadia and Ridgeway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.7%±3.1
NY: 20.5%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
NY: 20.5%
25.7%±5.8Highest
NY: 20.5%
Lyons and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.3%±2.7
NY: 17.9%
20.6%±3.1Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.4Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Ridgeway and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.2%
NY: 40.2%
18.2%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
21%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1
NY: 7%
1.4%±1Lowest
NY: 7%
2.6%±1.6Highest
NY: 7%
Lyons and Arcadia 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
$69,516±$8k
19% below NY
$74,524±$12kHighest
13% below NY
Lyons and Ridgeway 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
$149,900±$15kHighest
65% below NY
$98,400±$12kLowest
77% below NY
Ridgeway and Arcadia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,002±$86Highest
38% below NY
$934±$49
42% below NY
$920±$111Lowest
43% below NY
Arcadia and Ridgeway 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
$4,109Highest
38% below NY
$2,998Lowest
54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.2%±11.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
33.4%±13.8Lowest
NY: 52.1%
35.6%±12.2
NY: 52.1%
Arcadia and Lyons 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%
10.4%Lowest
NY: 14%
14.3%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.4%
NY: 54.3%
69.8%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
74.9%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Highest
1 yr newer than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
30% below NY
25 minHighest
24% below NY
21 minLowest
37% below NY
Work from home
6.4%±2.9Lowest
NY: 14.9%
7.8%±4.3
NY: 14.9%
11.8%±8.3Highest
NY: 14.9%
Lyons and Ridgeway 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
School district NEWARK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town NEWARK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Highest
—
9.5Lowest
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.