Compare towns

Addison vs Gowanda vs Jay

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gowanda has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureAddisonGowandaJay
People
Population
2,501
2,683Highest
471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.1±3.3
about the U.S. average
37.6±6.2Lowest
3% below U.S.
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
Kids under 18
25.8%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
30.2%±9.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Gowanda and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Gowanda and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
13.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Addison and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,105±$12k
29% below U.S.
$51,828±$2kLowest
36% below U.S.
$74,792±$25kHighest
7% below U.S.
Jay and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$99,300±$5k
70% below U.S.
$96,400±$13kLowest
71% below U.S.
$234,200±$45kHighest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$785±$251Highest
44% below U.S.
$753±$51Lowest
47% below U.S.
—
Addison and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,727
13% below U.S.
$2,663Lowest
15% below U.S.
$3,588Highest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±15
U.S.: 51.1%
62.4%±14.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gowanda and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1948
32 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
Work from home
4.5%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #464 of 484 in NY — —
School district ADDISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town ADDISON MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9
— —
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.