What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyons has the most affordable homes ($98k median).

Ontario has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Ontario
People
Population	5,594Lowest	10,491Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY	45.2±2.7Highest 14% above NY
	Ontario 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%	22.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons and Ontario 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%	22.7%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ontario 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%	32.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Ontario 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±$12kLowest 13% below NY	$82,608±$7kHighest 4% below NY
	Ontario 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	$233,900±$15kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$920±$111Highest 43% below NY	$882±$172Lowest 46% below NY
	Lyons and Ontario 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	$5,251Highest 20% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	49%±18.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ontario 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%	5.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	23 minHighest 29% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Lyons and Ontario 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	#48 of 484 in NY
School district	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WAYNE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	WAYNE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	10.4Highest
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.