What stands out worked out from the figures below

Western has the most expensive homes ($238k median).

Ava 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	Western	Ava
People
Population	1,839Highest	633Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48±6Highest 21% above NY	46.9±8.7Lowest 18% above NY
	Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9%	12.6%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	9.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	1.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,964±$16kHighest 3% above NY	$71,875±$21kLowest 16% below NY
	Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,800±$69kHighest 44% below NY	$125,700±$36kLowest 70% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,024±$178Highest 37% below NY	$750±$249Lowest 54% below NY
	Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,930Highest 25% below NY	$1,793Lowest 73% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±26.5Highest NY: 52.1%	13.9%±67.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest NY: 14%	17.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 24% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	5.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ava and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.