Compare towns
Lee vs Reading vs Ava
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most expensive homes ($218k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Ava has the most affordable homes ($126k 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 | Lee | Reading | Ava |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,074Highest |
1,637 |
633Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+0.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
46.9±8.7 18% above NY |
| Lee and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Ava and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2 NY: 17.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Lee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.4% NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
9.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Lee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,137±$6kHighest 9% above NY |
$86,131±$9k about the NY average |
$71,875±$21kLowest 16% below NY |
| Lee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$20kHighest 49% below NY |
$160,200±$37k 62% below NY |
$125,700±$36kLowest 70% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $936±$41 42% below NY |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$750±$249Lowest 54% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,362Highest 49% below NY |
$3,219 51% below NY |
$1,793Lowest 73% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.4%±27.7 NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
13.9%±67.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Reading and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Lee and Reading 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.