Compare towns
Ava vs Western vs Lee
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%).
Western has the most kids (22% under 18).
Lee has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Western | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 633Lowest |
1,839 |
6,074Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.9±8.7Lowest 18% above NY |
48±6 21% above NY |
52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY |
| Lee and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
22%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.9%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25.9%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Western and Lee 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% |
32.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Lee and Western 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±$16k 3% above NY |
$94,137±$6kHighest 9% above NY |
| Lee and Western 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 |
$217,700±$20k 49% below NY |
| Western and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$249Lowest 54% below NY |
$1,024±$178Highest 37% below NY |
$936±$41 42% below NY |
| Western and Lee 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 |
$3,362 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.9%±67.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
48.4%±26.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
21.4%±27.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Western 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% |
7% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% NY: 54.3% |
83%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
25 min 24% below NY |
22 minLowest 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Lee and Ava 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.