Compare towns
Lyons vs Pendleton vs Wheatfield 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 the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Wheatfield has the most expensive homes ($315k 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 | Pendleton | Wheatfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,594Lowest |
7,034 |
18,549Highest |
5,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% NY: +4.2% |
+10%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY |
46.7±4.1 17% above NY |
47.3±2.1Highest 19% above NY |
43±7.9 8% above NY |
| Wheatfield and Pendleton 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% |
21.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.5%±3.3 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% |
23%±4.3 NY: 17.9% |
23.1%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
19%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Wheatfield and Pendleton 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% |
34.9% NY: 40.2% |
35.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
4%±2.1 NY: 7% |
5%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
3%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Wheatfield and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,524±$12k 13% below NY |
$113,750±$27kHighest 32% above NY |
$93,682±$6k 9% above NY |
$69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY |
| Pendleton and Wheatfield 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 |
$294,300±$39k 31% below NY |
$314,900±$19kHighest 26% below NY |
$163,900±$9k 61% below NY |
| Wheatfield and Pendleton 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 |
$994±$119 39% below NY |
$989±$87 39% below NY |
$1,018±$239Highest 37% below NY |
| Groton and Pendleton 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 |
$6,623Highest about the NY average |
$5,735 13% below NY |
$3,955 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.8%±11.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
49%±25.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Wheatfield and Groton 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% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
5.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
76.4% NY: 54.3% |
75% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 37% below NY |
23 min 31% below NY |
23 minHighest 29% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±8.3 NY: 14.9% |
18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Pendleton 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 | #67 of 484 in NY | #9 of 484 in NY | #322 of 484 in NY |
| School district | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
14.5Highest |
— | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.