What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peru has the most expensive homes ($203k 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	Peru
People
Population	5,594Lowest	6,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.1±5.4Highest 3% above NY	40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average
	Lyons and Peru 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%	21.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%	15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lyons and Peru 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%	33.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7%
	Peru 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	$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY
	Peru 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	$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$920±$111Lowest 43% below NY	$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY
	Peru 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	$4,357Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.6%±12.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Peru 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%	8.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.7%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 min 37% below NY	21 min 37% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Lyons and Peru 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	#347 of 484 in NY
School district	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	PERU HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	11.7Highest
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.