What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preble has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).

Lee has the most expensive homes ($218k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Preble	Lee
People
Population	1,150Lowest	6,074Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.8±8.8Lowest 13% above NY	52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY
	Lee and Preble are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%	15.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Preble and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%	25.9%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Preble and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	29.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.3Highest NY: 7%	4.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Preble and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,083±$20kLowest 5% below NY	$94,137±$6kHighest 9% above NY
	Lee and Preble are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,700±$27kLowest 58% below NY	$217,700±$20kHighest 49% below NY
	Lee and Preble are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,278±$194Highest 21% below NY	$936±$41Lowest 42% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,323Highest 34% below NY	$3,362Lowest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	92.7%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1%	21.4%±27.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%	5.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 16% below NY	22 minLowest 32% below NY
Work from home	16.7%±6Highest NY: 14.9%	13.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Preble and Lee 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

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.