Compare towns
Collins vs Java vs Sheldon vs Otto
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Collins has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Otto has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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.
| Measure | Collins | Java | Sheldon | Otto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,643Highest |
2,049 |
2,216 |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
53.4±3.2Highest 34% above NY |
| Otto and Sheldon 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Collins and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
33.5%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
18.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
2.3%±2.3 NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,905±$5k 29% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$60,385±$12kLowest 30% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,000±$11k 64% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$141,300±$17kLowest 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $799±$90Lowest 51% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$883±$517Highest 46% below NY |
| Otto and Java 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,926 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
45.5%±79.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Collins and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
10.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1958 1 yr older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 26% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 11%±5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.9%±15Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Otto 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 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.