What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most homeowners (93.1%).

Rome has the most renters (43.4% rent).

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	Lee	Rome
People
Population	6,074Lowest	31,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY	40.7±1.9Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.5%±2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Rome and Lee 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%	19.8%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lee and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Lee and Rome 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	$59,925±$3kLowest 30% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$217,700±$20kHighest 49% below NY	$154,400±$6kLowest 64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$936±$41Highest 42% below NY	$909±$59Lowest 44% below NY
	Lee and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,362Lowest 49% below NY	$4,212Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.4%±27.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	45.6%±6.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Rome and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%	18.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	56.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 32% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Lee and Rome 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	#323 of 484 in NY
School district	ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	ROME FREE ACADEMY
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.2
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.