Compare towns
Gowanda vs Proctor vs Troy 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).
Proctor has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Collins has the most people working from home (11%).
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 | Proctor | Troy | Collins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,683 |
1,794 |
1,749Lowest |
4,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±6.2Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.5±6.2 4% above U.S. |
| Troy and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Collins 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% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Troy 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. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$60,905±$5k 25% below U.S. |
| Troy and Proctor 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. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$153,000±$11k 54% below U.S. |
| Troy and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $753±$51 47% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Highest 27% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$799±$90 43% below U.S. |
| Proctor and Collins 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. |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
$2,501Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±14.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest 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% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Collins and Proctor 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 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Troy School District | GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.