What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westmoreland has the most expensive homes ($238k 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	Westmoreland
People
Population	5,594Lowest	5,892Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY	47±8.7Highest 18% above NY
	Westmoreland 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%	19.7%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyons and Westmoreland 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%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Westmoreland 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%	30.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Lyons and Westmoreland 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	$105,333±$10kHighest 23% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$98,400±$12kLowest 77% below NY	$238,100±$20kHighest 44% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$920±$111Highest 43% below NY	$874±$187Lowest 46% below NY
	Lyons and Westmoreland 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	$3,685Highest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.6%±12.2Highest NY: 52.1%	20.3%±31.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lyons and Westmoreland 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%	3.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±8.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.8%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Westmoreland 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	#124 of 484 in NY
School district	LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WESTMORELAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	DONALD H CRANE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	10.4Highest
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.