What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Union has the most affordable homes ($150k 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	Cheektowaga	Union
People
Population	76,056Highest	55,078Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.4±1.2Lowest about the NY average	41.4±1.2Highest 4% above NY
	Union and Cheektowaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	19%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Union and Cheektowaga 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%	21.4%±1.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Union 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±1Highest NY: 7%	6.1%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Cheektowaga and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,613±$2kHighest 20% below NY	$61,713±$2kLowest 28% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,500±$5kHighest 56% below NY	$149,900±$5kLowest 65% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,055±$23Highest 35% below NY	$936±$37Lowest 42% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,513Highest 31% below NY	$4,200Lowest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±4.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	49.2%±5.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Union and Cheektowaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest NY: 14%	16.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	58.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 37% below NY	18 minLowest 46% below NY
Work from home	11.4%±1.6Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Cheektowaga and Union 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	#199 of 484 in NY
School district	—	UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.