Compare towns
Murray vs Lyons vs Collins vs Clarkson
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 the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Collins has the most homeowners (82.2%).
Clarkson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Murray | Lyons | Collins | Clarkson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,754 |
5,594 |
4,643Lowest |
6,810Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NY: +4.2% |
-0.1% NY: +4.2% |
-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average |
41.1±5.4 3% above NY |
40.5±6.2 about the NY average |
42.7±3.7Highest 7% above NY |
| Clarkson and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±6.6 NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.7Lowest 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% |
20.1%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Collins and Clarkson 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% NY: 40.2% |
16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.2 NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Clarkson and Lyons 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±$12k 13% below NY |
$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY |
$83,286±$15kHighest 3% below NY |
| Clarkson and Lyons 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±$11k 64% below NY |
$207,000±$24kHighest 51% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $826±$63 49% below NY |
$920±$111 43% below NY |
$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,084±$99Highest 33% below NY |
| Clarkson and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,907 41% below NY |
$2,998 54% below NY |
$2,501Lowest 62% below NY |
$5,146Highest 22% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
35.6%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
27.8%±17.3Lowest 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% NY: 14% |
7.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% NY: 54.3% |
74.9% NY: 54.3% |
82.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
66.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1950 9 yrs older than NY |
1988Highest 29 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 20% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
28 minHighest 14% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.8%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±8.3 NY: 14.9% |
11%±5 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±4.5Lowest 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 | 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.