What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Monroe has the most affordable homes ($185k median).

Cicero has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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	West Monroe	Cicero
People
Population	4,060Lowest	31,133Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±4.6Highest 16% above NY	43±1.9Lowest 8% above NY
	West Monroe and Cicero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±2.2Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	17.8%±3.8 NY: 17.9%	17.8%±1.6 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	34.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±0.9Highest NY: 7%
	Cicero and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,558±$11kLowest 5% above NY	$96,463±$8kHighest 12% above NY
	Cicero and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,100±$19kLowest 56% below NY	$221,200±$8kHighest 48% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,051±$342Highest 35% below NY	$1,017±$79Lowest 37% below NY
	West Monroe and Cicero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,333Lowest 34% below NY	$5,634Highest 14% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±13.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.7%±13.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Cicero and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest NY: 14%	10.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY	1980Lowest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 22% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	8.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±2.1Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#177 of 484 in NY
School district	—	CENTRAL SQUARE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CICERO-NORTH SYRACUSE HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
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.