What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gates has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

North Tonawanda has the most expensive homes ($197k 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	Gates	North Tonawanda
People
Population	29,008Lowest	30,198Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±2.2Highest 10% above NY	43.1±1.7Lowest 8% above NY
	Gates and North Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.1Highest NY: 20.5%	17.9%±1.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Gates and North Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%	21.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Gates and North Tonawanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	4.7%±1Highest NY: 7%
	North Tonawanda and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,080±$4kHighest 10% below NY	$66,961±$5kLowest 22% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,500±$3kLowest 60% below NY	$197,200±$7kHighest 53% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,196±$60Highest 26% below NY	$934±$26Lowest 42% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,143Highest 22% below NY	$4,636Lowest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±6.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.7%±7Highest NY: 52.1%
	North Tonawanda and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Lowest NY: 14%	12.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	70.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 46% below NY	20 minHighest 37% below NY
Work from home	17%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	14.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Gates and North Tonawanda 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	#324 of 484 in NY	#293 of 484 in NY
School district	GATES CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTH TONAWANDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	GATES CHILI HIGH SCHOOL	NORTH TONAWANDA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.8Highest
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.