What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Williamson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

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	Williamson
People
Population	4,643Lowest	6,823Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average	40.9±4.2Highest about the NY average
	Williamson 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%	19.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Collins and Williamson 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%	20.7%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Collins and Williamson 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%	34.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY	$90,515±$14kHighest 5% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$153,000±$11kLowest 64% below NY	$192,700±$18kHighest 55% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$799±$90Highest 51% below NY	$659±$304Lowest 59% below NY
	Collins and Williamson 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	$5,172Highest 21% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1%	25.1%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Collins and Williamson 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%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY	1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 26% below NY	25 minHighest 25% below NY
Work from home	11%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.2%±6.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Williamson 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	#221 of 484 in NY
School district	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.3
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.