What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lockport has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

Rome has the most people working from home (12.8%).

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	Lockport	Rome
People
Population	20,610Lowest	31,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.8±2Lowest 8% below NY	40.7±1.9Highest about the NY average
Kids under 18	21.5%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5%	19.5%±2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lockport and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.8%±1.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Rome and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,410±$7kHighest 27% below NY	$59,925±$3kLowest 30% below NY
	Lockport and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$139,900±$11kLowest 67% below NY	$154,400±$6kHighest 64% below NY
	Rome and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$43Highest 42% below NY	$909±$59Lowest 44% below NY
	Lockport and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,022Lowest 39% below NY	$4,212Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	45.6%±6.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Rome and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.2%Lowest NY: 14%	18.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	56.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY	1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 28% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Rome and Lockport 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	#289 of 484 in NY	#323 of 484 in NY
School district	LOCKPORT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LOCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL	ROME FREE ACADEMY
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	13.2Highest
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.