Compare towns
Gowanda vs Sheldon vs Amity vs Persia
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).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Amity has the most affordable homes ($87k median).
Persia has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Sheldon | Amity | Persia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,683Highest |
2,267 |
2,407 |
2,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±6.2Lowest 3% below U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
37.8±5.6 about the U.S. average |
41.7±15Highest 7% 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% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gowanda and Amity 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±2.8Highest 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% |
14.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,828±$2kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$61,042±$10k 24% below U.S. |
$54,495±$8k 33% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$87,300±$7kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$100,000±$23k 70% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $753±$51 47% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$705±$59Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$765±$65 46% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,663 15% below U.S. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,541Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,655 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±14.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±16 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Amity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | 7 photos → |
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.