What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ava has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Western has the most expensive homes ($238k 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.

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

Measure	Ava	Western
People
Population	633Lowest	1,839Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.9±8.7Lowest 18% above NY	48±6Highest 21% above NY
	Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	22%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Western and Ava 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%	26.5%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	32.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Western 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	$88,964±$16kHighest 3% above NY
	Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,700±$36kLowest 70% below NY	$237,800±$69kHighest 44% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$249Lowest 54% below NY	$1,024±$178Highest 37% below NY
	Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,793Lowest 73% below NY	$4,930Highest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.9%±67.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.4%±26.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Western and Ava 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%	7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	83%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	25 minLowest 24% below NY
Work from home	5.9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	5.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Ava and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.