What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cairo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

Collins has the most affordable homes ($153k median).

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	Cairo	Collins
People
Population	6,700Highest	4,643Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±4.2Highest 11% above NY	40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average
	Cairo and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Collins and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%	21.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Cairo and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Cairo and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,643±$22kHighest 7% below NY	$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY
	Cairo and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,400±$18kHighest 38% below NY	$153,000±$11kLowest 64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,015±$305Highest 37% below NY	$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY
	Cairo and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,246Highest 35% below NY	$2,501Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Collins and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 13% below NY	24 minLowest 26% below NY
Work from home	11.1%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9%	11%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Cairo and Collins 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	#461 of 484 in NY	#467 of 484 in NY
School district	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.