Compare towns
Lyons vs Seward vs Murray
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%).
Seward has the most expensive homes ($199k 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 | Seward | Murray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,594Highest |
2,055Lowest |
4,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.1±5.4Highest 3% above NY |
39.5±8Lowest about the NY average |
40.3±2.8 about the NY average |
| Lyons and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.7%±5.8 NY: 20.5% |
27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Seward and Lyons 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% |
17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Lyons and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% NY: 40.2% |
27.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NY: 7% |
5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Seward 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±$12k 13% below NY |
$86,786±$20kHighest about the NY average |
$65,077±$5kLowest 24% below NY |
| Seward 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 |
$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY |
$123,800±$14k 71% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$111 43% below NY |
$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY |
$826±$63Lowest 49% below NY |
| Seward 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 |
$3,855 41% below NY |
$3,907Highest 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±15.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Murray and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3% NY: 14% |
16.4%Highest NY: 14% |
10%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 37% below NY |
37 minHighest 14% above NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±8.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±6.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Seward and Murray 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 | — | #430 of 484 in NY |
| School district | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.