Compare towns
Gowanda vs Persia vs Sheldon
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).
Persia has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Persia | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,683Highest |
2,048Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±6.2Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.7±15Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Persia and Sheldon 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% |
20.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gowanda and Sheldon 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% |
24.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
12.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 36% below U.S. |
$54,495±$8k 33% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Sheldon and Persia 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. |
$100,000±$23k 70% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $753±$51Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$765±$65 46% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,663 15% below U.S. |
$2,655Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±14.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school 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.