What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyons has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).

Collins has the most expensive homes ($153k median).

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	Collins
People
Population	5,594Highest	4,643Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.1±5.4Highest 3% above NY	40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average
	Lyons and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±6.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.3%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Collins and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Lyons and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,524±$12kHighest 13% below NY	$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY
	Lyons and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$98,400±$12kLowest 77% below NY	$153,000±$11kHighest 64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$920±$111Highest 43% below NY	$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY
	Lyons and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,998Highest 54% below NY	$2,501Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Collins and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1950Highest 9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	24 minHighest 26% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9%	11%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Lyons and Collins 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	#388 of 484 in NY	#467 of 484 in NY
School district	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.