What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halfmoon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.2%).

Lysander has the most affordable homes ($288k 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.

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

Measure	Halfmoon	Lysander
People
Population	26,245Highest	23,086Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+19.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	+6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.1±2Lowest 6% above NY	43.6±1.9Highest 10% above NY
	Lysander and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lysander and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±1.7Highest NY: 17.9%	17.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Halfmoon and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	47.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Highest NY: 7%	3.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Halfmoon and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,712±$7kLowest 17% above NY	$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY
	Lysander and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$387,700±$21kHighest 9% below NY	$288,400±$18kLowest 32% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,559±$66Highest 4% below NY	$1,130±$100Lowest 30% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 12% below NY	$6,748Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±8.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Lysander and Halfmoon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%	5.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 37 yrs newer than NY	1985Lowest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	24 minHighest 26% below NY
Work from home	16.3%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Lysander and Halfmoon 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	#206 of 484 in NY	#158 of 484 in NY
School district	MECHANICVILLE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	MECHANICVILLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	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.