Compare towns
Rome vs Lee vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rome has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Lee has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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.
| Measure | Rome | Lee | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,795Highest |
6,074Lowest |
26,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.9Lowest about the NY average |
52.8±4.5Highest 33% above NY |
41.1±1.1 3% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19%±1.7 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% |
25.9%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Lee and Auburn 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% |
29.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±0.7 NY: 7% |
4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
2.7%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Lee and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,925±$3k 30% below NY |
$94,137±$6kHighest 9% above NY |
$51,052±$5kLowest 41% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,400±$6k 64% below NY |
$217,700±$20kHighest 49% below NY |
$152,800±$9kLowest 64% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $909±$59 44% below NY |
$936±$41Highest 42% below NY |
$897±$50Lowest 45% below NY |
| Lee and Rome 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 |
$3,362Lowest 49% below NY |
$3,998 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±6.7 NY: 52.1% |
21.4%±27.7Lowest 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% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.6% NY: 54.3% |
93.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
48.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 45% below NY |
22 minHighest 32% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.8%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.7%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Lee and Rome 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 | #323 of 484 in NY | #435 of 484 in NY | #374 of 484 in NY |
| School district | ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | ROME FREE ACADEMY | None in town | AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Lowest |
— | 13.8Highest |
| 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.