Compare towns
Western vs Ira vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Western has the most kids (22% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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.
| Measure | Western | Ira | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,839 |
381Lowest |
6,074Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±6Lowest 23% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
52.8±4.5 36% above U.S. |
| Ira and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Western and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,964±$16k 10% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$94,137±$6kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Lee and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,800±$69k 29% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$217,700±$20kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Ira and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,024±$178Highest 28% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$936±$41Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Western and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$3,362Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±26.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.4%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Western and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.