Compare towns
Ava vs Lee vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ava has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Lee has the most expensive homes ($218k median).
Preston has the most affordable homes ($122k 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 | Ava | Lee | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 633Lowest |
6,074Highest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.9% NY: +4.2% |
-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.9±8.7Lowest 18% above NY |
52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY |
49.2±8.2 24% above NY |
| Lee and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.9%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
13.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Ava and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.9%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.8%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Lee and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
11.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±2.5 NY: 7% |
4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Lee and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,875±$21kLowest 16% below NY |
$94,137±$6kHighest 9% above NY |
$85,625±$11k about the NY average |
| Lee and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,700±$36k 70% below NY |
$217,700±$20kHighest 49% below NY |
$122,300±$48kLowest 71% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$249Lowest 54% below NY |
$936±$41 42% below NY |
$1,292±$173Highest 20% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,793Lowest 73% below NY |
$3,362Highest 49% below NY |
$2,800 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.9%±67.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
21.4%±27.7 NY: 52.1% |
48.5%±75.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Preston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.1%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
22 minLowest 32% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±10.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Lee and Preston 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 | — | #435 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.