Compare towns

Gowanda vs Jay vs Troy

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 the most people working from home (27.3%).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).

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.

MeasureGowandaJayTroy
People
Population
2,683Highest
471Lowest
1,749
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.6±6.2Lowest
3% below U.S.
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
44.5±5.7
14% above U.S.
Jay and Troy 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%
21.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Gowanda and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Gowanda and Troy 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%
20.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Troy 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
36% below U.S.
$74,792±$25k
7% below U.S.
$87,938±$11kHighest
9% above U.S.
Troy and Jay 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.
$233,200±$21k
30% below U.S.
Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$753±$51Highest
47% below U.S.
—
$646±$323Lowest
54% below U.S.
Gowanda and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,663Lowest
15% below U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$3,644Highest
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.4%±14.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±26.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gowanda and Jay 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Troy 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.