What stands out worked out from the figures below

Collins has the most kids (24.4% under 18).

Dickinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).

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	Collins	Dickinson
People
Population	4,643Lowest	5,001Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average	42.7±3.3Highest 7% above NY
	Dickinson and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.4%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5%	17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Collins and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%	21.1%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Collins and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	32%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY	$77,864±$14kHighest 9% below NY
	Dickinson and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$153,000±$11kHighest 64% below NY	$147,400±$17kLowest 65% below NY
	Collins and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY	$941±$68Highest 42% below NY
	Dickinson and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,501Lowest 62% below NY	$3,523Highest 46% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1%	35.8%±13.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Collins and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest NY: 14%	8.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY	1952Highest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 26% below NY	17 minLowest 48% below NY
Work from home	11%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Dickinson 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	#467 of 484 in NY	—
School district	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHENANGO VALLEY 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.