What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Durham has the most expensive homes ($245k 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	Durham
People
Population	5,594Highest	2,641Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY
	Durham and Lyons 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%	18.3%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons and Durham 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%	24.2%±7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Durham 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Lyons and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,524±$12kLowest 13% below NY	$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY
	Durham and Lyons 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	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$920±$111Lowest 43% below NY	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY
	Durham and Lyons 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	$3,728Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.6%±12.2Highest NY: 52.1%	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lyons and Durham 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%	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	11.8%±8.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Durham 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	#100 of 484 in NY
School district	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Highest	7.9Lowest
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.