Compare towns
Auburn vs Java vs Rome vs Melrose Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Rome has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Melrose Park has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Auburn | Java | Rome | Melrose Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,285 |
2,049 |
31,795Highest |
1,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.7% NY: +4.2% |
-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.1 3% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.7±1.9Lowest about the NY average |
45.3±8.1Highest 14% above NY |
| Melrose Park and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±1.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±2 NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±7.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Melrose Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.8%±1.7 NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Melrose Park and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
20.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
50.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±0.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±0.7Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±2.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Rome and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,052±$5kLowest 41% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$59,925±$3k 30% below NY |
$103,723±$11kHighest 21% above NY |
| Melrose Park and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$9kLowest 64% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$154,400±$6k 64% below NY |
$224,400±$17kHighest 47% below NY |
| Melrose Park and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$50 45% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$909±$59Highest 44% below NY |
— |
| Rome and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,998 39% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,212 36% below NY |
$4,902Highest 26% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±7.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45.6%±6.7 NY: 52.1% |
17.9%±48.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Auburn and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
18.1% NY: 14% |
6.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
56.6% NY: 54.3% |
93.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 40% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.7%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±7 NY: 14.9% |
| Rome and Melrose Park 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 | #374 of 484 in NY | — | #323 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL | — | ROME FREE ACADEMY | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
— | 13.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.