Compare towns
Gowanda vs Jay vs Whitehall vs Amity
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 kids (30.2% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Whitehall has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Amity has the most affordable homes ($87k 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.
| Measure | Gowanda | Jay | Whitehall | Amity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,683 |
471Lowest |
2,690Highest |
2,407 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±6.2 3% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
36.8±4.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.8±5.6 about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Amity 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% |
26.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
26.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gowanda and Whitehall 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% |
17.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gowanda and Whitehall 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% |
13.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amity and Whitehall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,828±$2k 36% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$47,683±$8kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$61,042±$10k 24% below U.S. |
| Jay and Amity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $96,400±$13k 71% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$102,000±$9k 69% below U.S. |
$87,300±$7kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $753±$51 47% below U.S. |
— | $975±$96Highest 31% below U.S. |
$705±$59Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,663 15% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,178 about the U.S. average |
$2,541Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±14.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.6%±18.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitehall and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
29.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Amity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | GENESEE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.