Compare towns

Murray vs Collins vs Clarkson

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).
Collins has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Clarkson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

MeasureMurrayCollinsClarkson
People
Population
4,754
4,643Lowest
6,810Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%
NY: +4.2%
-10.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+2.5%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40.3±2.8Lowest
about the NY average
40.5±6.2
about the NY average
42.7±3.7Highest
7% above NY
Clarkson 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%
24.4%±6.6Highest
NY: 20.5%
18.6%±4.7Lowest
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%
21.3%±3.8Highest
NY: 17.9%
20.1%±4.1
NY: 17.9%
Collins and Clarkson 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%
16.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
28%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.2
NY: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
3.8%±2Highest
NY: 7%
Clarkson 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
$60,905±$5kLowest
29% below NY
$83,286±$15kHighest
3% below NY
Clarkson 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
$153,000±$11k
64% below NY
$207,000±$24kHighest
51% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$826±$63
49% below NY
$799±$90Lowest
51% below NY
$1,084±$99Highest
33% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,907
41% below NY
$2,501Lowest
62% below NY
$5,146Highest
22% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.9%±15.7
NY: 52.1%
59.4%±38.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
27.8%±17.3Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Collins and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10%Highest
NY: 14%
9.1%
NY: 14%
7.8%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%
NY: 54.3%
82.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
66.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
7 yrs older than NY
1950Lowest
9 yrs older than NY
1988Highest
29 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
20% below NY
24 minLowest
26% below NY
28 minHighest
14% below NY
Work from home
12.8%±6.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
11%±5
NY: 14.9%
8.4%±4.5Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Murray 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 #430 of 484 in NY #467 of 484 in NY —
School district HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
— —
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.