What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Murray has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).

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	Murray
People
Population	4,643Lowest	4,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±6.2Highest about the NY average	40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average
	Collins and Murray 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%	20.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Collins and Murray 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%	17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Collins and Murray 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%	16.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
	Murray and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY	$65,077±$5kHighest 24% below NY
	Murray 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	$123,800±$14kLowest 71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY	$826±$63Highest 49% below NY
	Murray 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	$3,907Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±15.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Collins and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%	10%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.3%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 minLowest 26% below NY	26 minHighest 20% below NY
Work from home	11%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Murray 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	#430 of 484 in NY
School district	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
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.