Compare towns
Gowanda vs Sheldon 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).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Troy | Collins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,683 |
2,267 |
1,749Lowest |
4,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% 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. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.5±6.2 4% above U.S. |
| Troy 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% |
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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Collins 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% |
20.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$60,905±$5k 25% below U.S. |
| Troy and Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
$153,000±$11k 54% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Troy 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. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$799±$90 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,663 15% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,644Highest 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% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%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. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Collins 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Troy School District | GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.