Compare towns
Lysander vs Java vs Clay vs Onondaga
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Clay has the most renters (28.8% rent).
Onondaga has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lysander | Java | Clay | Onondaga |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,086 |
2,049Lowest |
59,995Highest |
22,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+4% NY: +4.2% |
-0.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.9 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
39.8±1Lowest about the NY average |
45.4±2.7Highest 14% above NY |
| Onondaga and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Lysander and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.1 NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Onondaga and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
38.2% NY: 40.2% |
46.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±0.7 NY: 7% |
8.1%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$90,707±$6kLowest 6% above NY |
$104,448±$5k 21% above NY |
| Lysander and Onondaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$205,900±$6kLowest 51% below NY |
$246,200±$15k 42% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,130±$100 30% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,240±$40 24% below NY |
$1,333±$128Highest 18% below NY |
| Onondaga and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,748Highest about the NY average |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$5,087 23% below NY |
$5,480 17% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
46.6%±5.6 NY: 52.1% |
51.1%±11.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Lysander and Onondaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% NY: 14% |
3.7% NY: 14% |
8.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 26% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 min 34% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.1%±1.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Lysander and Clay 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 | #158 of 484 in NY | — | #249 of 484 in NY | #122 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WESTHILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · ONONDAGA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | — | LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL | WESTHILL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
— | 14.0 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.