Compare towns
Lyons Falls vs Elba vs Columbus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyons Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Elba has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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.
| Measure | Lyons Falls | Elba | Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 569 |
485Lowest |
849Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-17.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.5±15 7% above NY |
40.7±10.7Lowest about the NY average |
43.6±11.8Highest 10% above NY |
| Columbus and Lyons Falls 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% |
21.8%±9 NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons Falls and Columbus 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% |
17.8%±6.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.3% NY: 40.2% |
19.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
| Elba and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,000±$18k 31% below NY |
$65,625±$23kHighest 24% below NY |
$58,889±$11kLowest 32% 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 |
$124,700±$36k 71% below NY |
| Elba and Columbus 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±$257 53% below NY |
$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY |
| Columbus and Elba 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 |
$3,071 53% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.8%±58.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
56.5%±70.3 NY: 52.1% |
53.6%±92.3Lowest 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% |
9.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.6% NY: 54.3% |
88.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 25% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
32 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 2.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.7%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Columbus and Elba 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 | 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.