Compare towns
Van Buren vs Pomfret vs Lysander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Van Buren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Lysander has the most expensive homes ($288k 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 | Van Buren | Pomfret | Lysander |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,237 |
12,795Lowest |
23,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.1±3.7 6% above NY |
37.5±4Lowest 6% below NY |
43.6±1.9Highest 10% above NY |
| Lysander and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3 NY: 20.5% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lysander and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Pomfret 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+ | 39.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
41.4% NY: 40.2% |
47.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1 NY: 7% |
22.5%±3Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,779±$8k 14% below NY |
$57,746±$10kLowest 33% below NY |
$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,600±$5kLowest 60% below NY |
$185,400±$19k 56% below NY |
$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,269±$87Highest 22% below NY |
$866±$43Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,130±$100 30% below NY |
| Van Buren and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,171Lowest 37% below NY |
$4,459 32% below NY |
$6,748Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±10.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
60.1%±10.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±10.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Pomfret and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% NY: 14% |
22.6%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
63.1% NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 23% below NY |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.6%±3.1Highest 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 | #386 of 484 in NY | #211 of 484 in NY | #158 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | FREDONIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | FREDONIA HIGH SCHOOL | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
15.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 1 photos → | 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.