What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyman has the oldest population (median age 60.8).

Belvidere has the most people working from home (9.4%).

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	Lyman	Belvidere
People
Population	464Highest	422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S.	40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Belvidere and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyman and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,042±$17kLowest 12% below U.S.	$81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average
	Belvidere and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,100±$66kHighest 6% below U.S.	$239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S.
	Lyman and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,147±$81Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Belvidere and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,981Highest 28% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belvidere and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Belvidere and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.