Compare towns
Western vs Wheelock 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).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.9%).
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 | Wheelock | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,839 |
717Lowest |
6,074Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±6Lowest 23% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
52.8±4.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Lee and Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Western and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock 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% |
34.9%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% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest 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. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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±$69kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$217,700±$20k 35% below U.S. |
| Western and Lee 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. |
— | $936±$41Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Western and Lee 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. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,362 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±26.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.4%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Western and Lee 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Lee 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 | — | — | #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.