Compare towns
Lyons vs Palmyra vs Groton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Palmyra has the most renters (29.4% rent).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($164k 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.
| Measure | Lyons | Palmyra | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,594Lowest |
7,354Highest |
5,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.1±5.4 3% above NY |
40.8±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
43±7.9Highest 8% above NY |
| Groton 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% |
20%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.2%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons and Groton 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% |
22.7%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
19%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Palmyra 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% |
26.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4 NY: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
| Groton and Palmyra 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 |
$67,113±$7kLowest 22% below NY |
$69,113±$12k 20% below NY |
| Lyons and Groton 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 |
$152,200±$12k 64% below NY |
$163,900±$9kHighest 61% below NY |
| Groton and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$111Lowest 43% below NY |
$941±$51 42% below NY |
$1,018±$239Highest 37% below NY |
| Groton and Palmyra 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 |
$3,938 40% below NY |
$3,955Highest 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
36.8%±15.3 NY: 52.1% |
49%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Groton and Palmyra 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% |
8.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% NY: 54.3% |
70.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 37% below NY |
25 minHighest 24% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Lyons and Groton 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 | #55 of 484 in NY | #322 of 484 in NY |
| School district | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PALMYRA-MACEDON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | PALMYRA-MACEDON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
9.9 |
11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.