What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyons Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

Elba has the most people working from home (5.7%).

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	Lyons Falls	Elba
People
Population	569Highest	485Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-17.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.5±15Highest 7% above NY	40.7±10.7Lowest about the NY average
	Lyons Falls and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.8%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%	19.2%±6.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons Falls and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.5%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%	15.5%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
	Elba and Lyons Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,000±$18kLowest 31% below NY	$65,625±$23kHighest 24% below NY
	Elba and Lyons Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$119,400±$42kLowest 72% below NY	$143,300±$13kHighest 66% below NY
	Elba and Lyons Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$600±$137Lowest 63% below NY	$763±$257Highest 53% below NY
	Elba and Lyons Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,076Lowest 68% below NY	$3,638Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.8%±58.3Highest NY: 52.1%	56.5%±70.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lyons Falls and Elba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 25% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	2.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.7%±3.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Elba and Lyons Falls 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

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.