What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

Rome has the most people working from home (12.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Auburn	Rome
People
Population	26,285Lowest	31,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.1±1.1Highest 3% above NY	40.7±1.9Lowest about the NY average
	Auburn and Rome 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%	19.5%±2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Rome and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9%	19.8%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Auburn and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±0.7Highest NY: 7%
	Rome and Auburn 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	$59,925±$3kHighest 30% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,800±$9kLowest 64% below NY	$154,400±$6kHighest 64% below NY
	Rome and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$897±$50Lowest 45% 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	$3,998Lowest 39% below NY	$4,212Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±7.8Highest NY: 52.1%	45.6%±6.7Lowest 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%	18.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	56.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY	1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 40% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	5.7%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%
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

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.