What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brutus has the most affordable homes ($155k median).

Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brutus	Lysander
People
Population	4,269Lowest	23,086Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.6±3.5 10% above NY	43.6±1.9 10% above NY
Kids under 18	17.7%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18.5%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%	17.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Brutus and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	47.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	3.6%±0.9Highest NY: 7%
	Lysander and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,031±$10kLowest 10% below NY	$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$154,900±$14kLowest 63% below NY	$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,114±$122Lowest 31% below NY	$1,130±$100Highest 30% below NY
	Lysander and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,294Lowest 35% below NY	$6,748Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±25.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Lysander and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.2%Highest NY: 14%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 18% below NY	24 minLowest 26% below NY
Work from home	8.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#313 of 484 in NY	#158 of 484 in NY
School district	WEEDSPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	WEEDSPORT JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.2Lowest	15.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.