What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ira has the most affordable homes ($159k 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	Ira	Lysander
People
Population	2,019Lowest	23,086Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest 8% above NY	43.6±1.9Highest 10% above NY
	Lysander and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lysander and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.6%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Lysander and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19%Lowest NY: 40.2%	47.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	3.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Ira and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,019±$11kLowest 13% above NY	$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY
	Lysander and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$158,800±$16kLowest 63% below NY	$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,130±$100 30% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,594Lowest 45% below NY	$6,748Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.3%±35.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Lysander and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest NY: 14%	5.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 7% below NY	24 minLowest 26% below NY
Work from home	8.9%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Lysander and Ira 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	—	#158 of 484 in NY
School district	CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	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.