What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most expensive homes ($164k 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.

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

Measure	Groton	Lyons
People
Population	5,612Highest	5,594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43±7.9Highest 8% above NY	41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY
	Groton and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Lyons and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	21%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Groton and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY	$74,524±$12kHighest 13% below NY
	Lyons and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$9kHighest 61% below NY	$98,400±$12kLowest 77% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,018±$239Highest 37% below NY	$920±$111Lowest 43% below NY
	Groton and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,955Highest 40% below NY	$2,998Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1%	35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Groton and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%	14.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Highest NY: 54.3%	74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 35% below NY	21 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	11.2%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Lyons and Groton 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	#322 of 484 in NY	#388 of 484 in NY
School district	DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	9.5Lowest
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.