What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salina has the most kids (19.7% under 18).

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	Salina
People
Population	29,008Lowest	32,840Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±2.2Highest 10% above NY	43.3±1.7Lowest 9% above NY
	Gates and Salina are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Salina and Gates 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%	20%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Gates and Salina are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	32.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	5.1%±0.9Highest NY: 7%
	Salina 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	$72,474±$5kLowest 16% below NY
	Gates and Salina are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,500±$3kHighest 60% below NY	$160,500±$4kLowest 62% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,196±$60Lowest 26% below NY	$1,226±$51Highest 24% below NY
	Salina and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,143Highest 22% below NY	$4,397Lowest 33% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±6.5Highest NY: 52.1%	36.2%±6.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Gates and Salina are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Lowest NY: 14%	11.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	68.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 46% below NY	18 minHighest 45% below NY
Work from home	17%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Gates and Salina 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	#440 of 484 in NY
School district	GATES CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · LYNCOURT UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	GATES CHILI HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
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.