What stands out worked out from the figures below

Collins has the most people working from home (11%).

Persia has the most affordable homes ($100k 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	Collins	Persia
People
Population	4,643Highest	2,048Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-8.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average	41.7±15Highest 5% above NY
	Persia 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%	20.7%±5.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Collins and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.1%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Persia and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	12.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Persia 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±$5kHighest 29% below NY	$54,495±$8kLowest 37% below NY
	Collins and Persia 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	$100,000±$23kLowest 76% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$799±$90Highest 51% below NY	$765±$65Lowest 53% below NY
	Collins and Persia 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	$2,655Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1%	56.1%±16Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Collins and Persia 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%	21.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 9 yrs older than NY	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 26% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	11%±5Highest NY: 14.9%	4.2%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Collins and Persia 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

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.