What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cheektowaga has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Depew has the oldest population (median age 43.4).

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	Cheektowaga	Depew
People
Population	76,056Highest	15,000Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.4±1.2Lowest about the NY average	43.4±2Highest 9% above NY
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.2Highest NY: 20.5%	18.4%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Cheektowaga and Depew are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.9%±3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Depew and Cheektowaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1Highest NY: 7%	4.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,613±$2kLowest 20% below NY	$73,556±$8kHighest 14% below NY
	Depew and Cheektowaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,500±$5kLowest 56% below NY	$196,500±$8kHighest 54% below NY
	Depew and Cheektowaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,055±$23Lowest 35% below NY	$1,061±$77Highest 35% below NY
	Depew and Cheektowaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,513Lowest 31% below NY	$5,458Highest 17% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±4.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.6%±10.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Depew and Cheektowaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest NY: 14%	9.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	76.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY	1961Highest 2 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 37% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	11.4%±1.6Highest NY: 14.9%	9.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Cheektowaga and Depew 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	#315 of 484 in NY	—
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.