What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyons has the most kids (25.7% under 18).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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	Reading
People
Population	5,594Highest	1,637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY	46.3±6.4Highest 16% above NY
	Reading 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%	17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons and Reading 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%	21.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Reading 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%	37.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Reading 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	$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average
	Reading 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	$160,200±$37kHighest 62% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$920±$111Lowest 43% below NY	$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY
	Reading 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	$3,219Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.6%±12.2Highest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lyons and Reading 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%	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Lyons and Reading 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	—
School district	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.