Compare towns
Lysander vs Java vs Grand Island vs Van Buren
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 the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Grand Island has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Van Buren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Van Buren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,086Highest |
2,049Lowest |
21,488 |
14,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5% NY: +4.2% |
+9%Highest 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 |
42.1±3.7Lowest 6% 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% |
19.4%±3Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Grand Island and Van Buren 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% |
39.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
4.1%±1 NY: 7% |
| Grand Island and Van Buren 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±$24k 11% above NY |
$115,991±$12kHighest 35% above NY |
$73,779±$8kLowest 14% below NY |
| Grand Island and Lysander 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±$30k 47% below NY |
$327,000±$14kHighest 23% below NY |
$169,600±$5kLowest 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,130±$100 30% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,199±$67 26% below NY |
$1,269±$87Highest 22% below NY |
| Van Buren and Grand Island 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 |
$5,850 11% below NY |
$4,171 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.5%±12.3 NY: 52.1% |
50.8%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Lysander and Van Buren 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% |
8.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
61.6%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 |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 26% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
25 min 23% below NY |
| Work from home | 16.6%±3.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±4.9 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 | #386 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | — | GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.