Compare towns
Lyons vs Collins vs Murray vs Galen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyons has the highest household income ($75k).
Collins has the most expensive homes ($153k median).
Murray has the most people working from home (12.8%).
Galen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Collins | Murray | Galen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,594Highest |
4,643 |
4,754 |
4,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% NY: +4.2% |
-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8% NY: +4.2% |
+2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.1±5.4Highest 3% above NY |
40.5±6.2 about the NY average |
40.3±2.8 about the NY average |
37.7±5.2Lowest 5% below NY |
| 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%±5.8 NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±6.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
27.8%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Galen and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.3Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
16.9% NY: 40.2% |
14.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Galen and Lyons 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 |
$65,077±$5k 24% below NY |
$64,177±$7k 25% below NY |
| Lyons and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $98,400±$12k 77% below NY |
$153,000±$11kHighest 64% below NY |
$123,800±$14k 71% below NY |
$95,400±$15kLowest 77% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$111Highest 43% below NY |
$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY |
$826±$63 49% below NY |
$864±$286 47% below NY |
| Lyons and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,998 54% below NY |
$2,501Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,907Highest 41% below NY |
$2,693 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
57.2%±25.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Collins and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.3% NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
10% NY: 14% |
17.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
82.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.3% NY: 54.3% |
80.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1950 9 yrs older than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 37% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
26 minHighest 20% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±8.3 NY: 14.9% |
11%±5 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Murray and Lyons 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 | #430 of 484 in NY | #475 of 484 in NY |
| School district | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CLYDE-SAVANNAH HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.