What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyonsdale has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.6%).

Orwell has the most people working from home (10.6%).

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	Lyonsdale	Orwell
People
Population	1,159Highest	914Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.9±7.6Highest 18% above NY	45.9±3Lowest 15% above NY
	Lyonsdale and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5Highest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyonsdale and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lyonsdale and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	13.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	1.9%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
	Orwell and Lyonsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,806±$12kLowest 28% below NY	$69,375±$9kHighest 19% below NY
	Orwell and Lyonsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$111,000±$15kLowest 74% below NY	$112,500±$13kHighest 73% below NY
	Orwell and Lyonsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$91Highest 48% below NY	$836±$101Lowest 48% below NY
	Lyonsdale and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,979Lowest 70% below NY	$2,324Highest 65% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±39.5Highest NY: 52.1%	47.4%±79.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lyonsdale and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest NY: 14%	16.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	94.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1979Lowest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	3.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.6%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Orwell and Lyonsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.