What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Collins has the most kids (24.4% under 18).

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	Jay	Collins
People
Population	471Lowest	4,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S.	40.5±6.2Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Jay and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Collins and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Collins and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jay and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S.	$60,905±$5kLowest 25% below U.S.
	Jay and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S.	$153,000±$11kLowest 54% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$799±$90 43% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 15% above U.S.	$2,501Lowest 20% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Collins and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jay 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	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.