What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

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	Rome	Auburn
People
Population	31,795Highest	26,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.7±1.9Lowest about the NY average	41.1±1.1Highest 3% above NY
	Auburn and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±2Highest NY: 20.5%	19%±1.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Rome and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Auburn and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±0.7Highest NY: 7%	2.7%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Rome and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,925±$3kHighest 30% below NY	$51,052±$5kLowest 41% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$154,400±$6kHighest 64% below NY	$152,800±$9kLowest 64% below NY
	Rome and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$909±$59Highest 44% below NY	$897±$50Lowest 45% below NY
	Rome and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,212Highest 36% below NY	$3,998Lowest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±6.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	55%±7.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Auburn and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.1%Lowest NY: 14%	19.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	48.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY	1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 45% below NY	20 minHighest 40% below NY
Work from home	12.8%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%	5.7%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#323 of 484 in NY	#374 of 484 in NY
School district	ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	ROME FREE ACADEMY	AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Lowest	13.8Highest
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.