Compare towns
Galen vs Amherst 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
Galen has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Lyons has the oldest population (median age 41.1).
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.
| Measure | Galen | Amherst | Lyons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,369Lowest |
130,546Highest |
5,594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NY: +4.2% |
+5.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.2Lowest 5% below NY |
39.1±0.8 about the NY average |
41.1±5.4Highest 3% above NY |
| Lyons and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.2%±1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.7%±5.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Galen and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±0.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Amherst and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
57.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NY: 7% |
13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,177±$7kLowest 25% below NY |
$93,483±$2kHighest 9% above NY |
$74,524±$12k 13% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $95,400±$15kLowest 77% below NY |
$311,600±$7kHighest 26% below NY |
$98,400±$12k 77% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $864±$286Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,393±$45Highest 14% below NY |
$920±$111 43% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,693Lowest 59% below NY |
$5,935Highest 10% below NY |
$2,998 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±25.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±4.3 NY: 52.1% |
35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Galen and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.5%Highest NY: 14% |
10.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 32% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.9%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±8.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Amherst and Lyons 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 | #475 of 484 in NY | #72 of 484 in NY | #388 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CLYDE-SAVANNAH HIGH SCHOOL | WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
11.2Highest |
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.