What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyons has the most people working from home (11.8%).

Dix has the most expensive homes ($165k 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	Dix
People
Population	5,594Highest	3,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY	50.1±2.8Highest 26% above NY
Kids under 18	25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%	13.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	27.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Dix 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%	17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Dix 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	$53,668±$8kLowest 38% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$98,400±$12kLowest 77% below NY	$165,000±$14kHighest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$920±$111Highest 43% below NY	$718±$172Lowest 56% below NY
	Lyons and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,998Lowest 54% below NY	$3,141Highest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	44.5%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Dix 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%	12.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1952Highest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 37% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9%	4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Lyons and Dix 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	#391 of 484 in NY
School district	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	10.9Highest
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.