Compare towns
Gowanda vs Jay vs Collins
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gowanda has the most affordable homes ($96k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.
| Measure | Gowanda | Jay | Collins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,683 |
471Lowest |
4,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±6.2Lowest 3% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
40.5±6.2 4% above U.S. |
| Jay and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.2%±9.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gowanda and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Collins and Gowanda 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gowanda and Jay 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 36% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$60,905±$5k 25% below U.S. |
| Jay and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $96,400±$13kLowest 71% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$153,000±$11k 54% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $753±$51Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— | $799±$90Highest 43% below U.S. |
| Collins and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,663 15% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,501Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±14.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gowanda and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.