Compare towns
Lysander vs Java vs Onondaga 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 people working from home (16.6%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Onondaga has the shortest commute (21 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 | Onondaga | Van Buren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,086Highest |
2,049Lowest |
22,573 |
14,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.7% NY: +4.2% |
+9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.9 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
45.4±2.7Highest 14% above NY |
42.1±3.7Lowest 6% 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%±2 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% |
23.5%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Onondaga 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% |
46.2% NY: 40.2% |
39.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
8.1%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
4.1%±1 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$104,448±$5k 21% above NY |
$73,779±$8kLowest 14% below 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 |
$246,200±$15k 42% below NY |
$169,600±$5kLowest 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,130±$100 30% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,333±$128Highest 18% below NY |
$1,269±$87 22% below NY |
| Onondaga and Van Buren 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 |
$5,480 17% 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% |
51.1%±11.5 NY: 52.1% |
50.8%±10.8 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% |
3.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% 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 |
1974 15 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 |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
25 min 23% below NY |
| Work from home | 16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Lysander and Van Buren 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 | — | #122 of 484 in NY | #386 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | WESTHILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · ONONDAGA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | — | WESTHILL HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
— | 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.