Compare towns

Collins vs Otto vs Murray

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).
Otto has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Murray has the most affordable homes ($124k 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.

MeasureCollinsOttoMurray
People
Population
4,643
798Lowest
4,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-10.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-3.8%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-3.8%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40.5±6.2
about the NY average
53.4±3.2Highest
34% above NY
40.3±2.8Lowest
about the NY average
Kids under 18
24.4%±6.6Highest
NY: 20.5%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20.5%±4.2
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%±3.8
NY: 17.9%
33.5%±4.3Highest
NY: 17.9%
17.9%±3.7Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
18.3%Highest
NY: 40.2%
16.9%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
2.3%±2.3Highest
NY: 7%
2.1%±1.2
NY: 7%
Otto and Murray 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
$60,385±$12kLowest
30% 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
$141,300±$17k
67% below NY
$123,800±$14kLowest
71% below NY
Collins and Otto 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
$883±$517Highest
46% below NY
$826±$63
49% below NY
Otto and Murray 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
$2,926
56% below NY
$3,907Highest
41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±38.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
45.5%±79.8
NY: 52.1%
38.9%±15.7Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Collins and Otto 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%
10.2%Highest
NY: 14%
10%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.2%
NY: 54.3%
89.5%Highest
NY: 54.3%
80.3%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Lowest
9 yrs older than NY
1958Highest
1 yr older than NY
1952
7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
26% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
26 min
20% below NY
Work from home
11%±5Lowest
NY: 14.9%
16.9%±15Highest
NY: 14.9%
12.8%±6.4
NY: 14.9%
Otto and Murray 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 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.