What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gowanda has the most kids (30.2% under 18).

Persia has the most people working from home (4.2%).

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	Persia
People
Population	2,683Highest	2,048Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.6±6.2Lowest 6% below NY	41.7±15Highest 5% above NY
	Persia 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%	20.7%±5.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Gowanda and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±5.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.1%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Persia 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 NY: 40.2%	12.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Persia 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	$54,495±$8kHighest 37% below NY
	Persia 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	$100,000±$23kHighest 76% below NY
	Persia 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	$765±$65Highest 53% below NY
	Persia and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,663Highest 60% below NY	$2,655Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.4%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1%	56.1%±16Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Gowanda and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Lowest NY: 14%	21.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	76.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1941Highest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 36% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	4.2%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Persia and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.