Compare towns

Murray vs Lyons vs Collins

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Murray has the most people working from home (12.8%).
Lyons has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Collins has the most expensive homes ($153k 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.

MeasureMurrayLyonsCollins
People
Population
4,754
5,594Highest
4,643Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%
NY: +4.2%
-0.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-10.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40.3±2.8Lowest
about the NY average
41.1±5.4Highest
3% above NY
40.5±6.2
about the NY average
Lyons and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±4.2Lowest
NY: 20.5%
25.7%±5.8Highest
NY: 20.5%
24.4%±6.6
NY: 20.5%
Lyons and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.9%±3.7Lowest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.4
NY: 17.9%
21.3%±3.8Highest
NY: 17.9%
Collins and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.9%
NY: 40.2%
21%Highest
NY: 40.2%
16.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.2
NY: 7%
2.6%±1.6Highest
NY: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
Lyons and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,077±$5k
24% below NY
$74,524±$12kHighest
13% below NY
$60,905±$5kLowest
29% below NY
Lyons and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$123,800±$14k
71% below NY
$98,400±$12kLowest
77% below NY
$153,000±$11kHighest
64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$826±$63
49% below NY
$920±$111Highest
43% below NY
$799±$90Lowest
51% below NY
Lyons and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,907Highest
41% below NY
$2,998
54% below NY
$2,501Lowest
62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.9%±15.7
NY: 52.1%
35.6%±12.2Lowest
NY: 52.1%
59.4%±38.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
Collins and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10%
NY: 14%
14.3%Highest
NY: 14%
9.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
NY: 54.3%
74.9%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
82.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Highest
7 yrs older than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1950
9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
20% below NY
21 minLowest
37% below NY
24 min
26% below NY
Work from home
12.8%±6.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
11.8%±8.3
NY: 14.9%
11%±5Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Murray and Lyons 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 #430 of 484 in NY #388 of 484 in NY #467 of 484 in NY
School district HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
9.5
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.