Compare towns
Ava vs Western vs Pike
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 expensive homes ($238k median).
Pike has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 633Lowest |
1,839Highest |
812 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.2% NY: +4.2% |
-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.9±8.7Lowest 18% above NY |
48±6 21% above NY |
48.3±4.4Highest 21% above NY |
| Pike 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% |
17.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
25.2%±6 NY: 17.9% |
| Western and Pike 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% |
15.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 NY: 7% |
| Western and Pike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,875±$21k 16% below NY |
$88,964±$16kHighest 3% above NY |
$71,250±$11kLowest 17% below 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 |
$129,100±$18k 70% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$249Lowest 54% below NY |
$1,024±$178Highest 37% below NY |
$810±$762 50% below NY |
| Western and Pike 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 |
$2,947 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.9%±67.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
48.4%±26.5 NY: 52.1% |
83.7%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Pike and Western 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% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83% NY: 54.3% |
80.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
25 min 24% below NY |
22 minLowest 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.1%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest 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 | 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.