What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gowanda has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Addison has the most people working from home (4.5%).

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	Gowanda	Addison
People
Population	2,683Highest	2,501Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.6±6.2Lowest 6% below NY	38.1±3.3Highest 4% below NY
	Addison and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.2%±9.7Highest NY: 20.5%	25.8%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Gowanda and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±5.8Highest NY: 17.9%	15.4%±3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Gowanda and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	13.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	2.2%±1Highest NY: 7%
	Addison and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,828±$2kLowest 40% below NY	$57,105±$12kHighest 34% below NY
	Addison and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$96,400±$13kLowest 77% below NY	$99,300±$5kHighest 77% below NY
	Addison and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$753±$51Lowest 54% below NY	$785±$251Highest 52% below NY
	Addison and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,663Lowest 60% below NY	$2,727Highest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.4%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1%	52%±15Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Gowanda and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest NY: 14%	14.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	73.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1948Highest 11 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 36% below NY	26 minHighest 22% below NY
Work from home	3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	4.5%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Addison and Gowanda 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	—	#464 of 484 in NY
School district	—	ADDISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	ADDISON MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.9
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.