Compare towns
Lee vs Western vs Hector
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Western has the most kids (22% under 18).
Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Hector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,074Highest |
1,839Lowest |
4,850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY |
48±6Lowest 21% above NY |
51.1±4 28% above NY |
| Lee and Hector 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% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Western and Hector 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% |
25%±5Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
32.8% NY: 40.2% |
36.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$79,904±$19kLowest 7% 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±$20kLowest 49% below NY |
$237,800±$69kHighest 44% below NY |
$218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
| Western and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $936±$41Lowest 42% below NY |
$1,024±$178 37% below NY |
$1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY |
| Hector and Western 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 |
$4,930Highest 25% below NY |
$4,072 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.4%±27.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
48.4%±26.5 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Western 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% |
15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
25 min 24% below NY |
27 minHighest 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| 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.