Compare towns
Lysander vs Java vs Grand Island vs Southeast
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 affordable homes ($224k median).
Grand Island has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Southeast has the most expensive homes ($447k 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 | Lysander | Java | Grand Island | Southeast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,086Highest |
2,049Lowest |
21,488 |
18,180 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5% NY: +4.2% |
-1.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.9 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
45.7±2.5Highest 15% above NY |
43.5±1.3Lowest 9% above NY |
| Grand Island 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% |
19.9%±2.5 NY: 20.5% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.9%±2.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Grand Island and Southeast 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% |
46.5% NY: 40.2% |
44.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±1.3 NY: 7% |
4.9%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Southeast and Grand Island are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,984±$5k 26% above NY |
$95,129±$24kLowest 11% above NY |
$115,991±$12kHighest 35% above NY |
$110,815±$12k 29% above NY |
| Grand Island and Southeast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,400±$18k 32% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$327,000±$14k 23% below NY |
$446,900±$22kHighest 5% above NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,130±$100 30% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,199±$67 26% below NY |
$1,755±$142Highest 8% above NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,748 about the NY average |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$5,850 11% below NY |
$9,493Highest 44% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.5%±12.3 NY: 52.1% |
55.7%±12.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Southeast and Lysander 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%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.1% NY: 14% |
8.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
78.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 26% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
34 minHighest 3% above NY |
| Work from home | 16.6%±3.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
14.7%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Grand Island and Lysander 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 | — | #145 of 484 in NY | #42 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BREWSTER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | — | GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | BREWSTER HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.