What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($142k 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	Hanover	Lyons
People
Population	6,882Highest	5,594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.6±5.5Highest 27% above NY	41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY
	Hanover and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Hanover and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23%Highest NY: 40.2%	21%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1 NY: 7%	2.6%±1.6 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,563±$9kLowest 17% below NY	$74,524±$12kHighest 13% below NY
	Lyons and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,500±$16kHighest 67% below NY	$98,400±$12kLowest 77% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$105Highest 39% below NY	$920±$111Lowest 43% below NY
	Hanover and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,881Lowest 56% below NY	$2,998Highest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±22.9Highest NY: 52.1%	35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hanover and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Lowest NY: 14%	14.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 9 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 19% below NY	21 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Lyons and Hanover 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	#196 of 484 in NY	#388 of 484 in NY
School district	FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	9.5Highest
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.