Compare towns

Murray vs Cairo vs Collins

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Murray has the most affordable homes ($124k median).
Cairo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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.

MeasureMurrayCairoCollins
People
Population
4,754
6,700Highest
4,643Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%
NY: +4.2%
-0.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-10.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40.3±2.8Lowest
about the NY average
44.2±4.2Highest
11% above NY
40.5±6.2
about the NY average
Cairo and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±4.2
NY: 20.5%
17.9%±3.5Lowest
NY: 20.5%
24.4%±6.6Highest
NY: 20.5%
Collins and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.9%±3.7Lowest
NY: 17.9%
22.9%±4.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
21.3%±3.8
NY: 17.9%
Cairo and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.9%
NY: 40.2%
28.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
16.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.2
NY: 7%
3.7%±1.5Highest
NY: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
Cairo and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,077±$5k
24% below NY
$79,643±$22kHighest
7% below NY
$60,905±$5kLowest
29% below NY
Cairo and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$123,800±$14kLowest
71% below NY
$263,400±$18kHighest
38% below NY
$153,000±$11k
64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$826±$63
49% below NY
$1,015±$305Highest
37% below NY
$799±$90Lowest
51% below NY
Cairo and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,907
41% below NY
$4,246Highest
35% below NY
$2,501Lowest
62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.9%±15.7Lowest
NY: 52.1%
45.1%±16.2
NY: 52.1%
59.4%±38.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
Collins and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10%
NY: 14%
10.5%Highest
NY: 14%
9.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
NY: 54.3%
75.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
82.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
7 yrs older than NY
1973Highest
14 yrs newer than NY
1950Lowest
9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
20% below NY
29 minHighest
13% below NY
24 minLowest
26% below NY
Work from home
12.8%±6.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
11.1%±6.2
NY: 14.9%
11%±5Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Murray and Cairo 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 #430 of 484 in NY #461 of 484 in NY #467 of 484 in NY
School district HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

NY 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.