Compare towns
Lee vs Western 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 people working from home (13.6%).
Western has the most kids (22% under 18).
Ava has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Lee | Western | Ava |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,074Highest |
1,839 |
633Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY |
48±6 21% above NY |
46.9±8.7Lowest 18% 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 | 15.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±4.4 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+ | 25.9%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 29.4% NY: 40.2% |
32.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
9.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
1.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | $94,137±$6kHighest 9% above NY |
$88,964±$16k 3% above NY |
$71,875±$21kLowest 16% below 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 | $217,700±$20k 49% below NY |
$237,800±$69kHighest 44% below NY |
$125,700±$36kLowest 70% 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 | $936±$41 42% below NY |
$1,024±$178Highest 37% below NY |
$750±$249Lowest 54% 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 | $3,362 49% below NY |
$4,930Highest 25% below NY |
$1,793Lowest 73% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.4%±27.7 NY: 52.1% |
48.4%±26.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
13.9%±67.6Lowest 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 | 5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
7% NY: 14% |
17.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
25 min 24% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±4.4 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.