What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oneida has the most renters (38.1% rent).

Collins has the most people working from home (11%).

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	Oneida	Collins
People
Population	10,171Highest	4,643Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47±2.4Highest 18% above NY	40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average
	Oneida and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Collins and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.3%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Collins and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Oneida and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,597±$6kHighest 28% below NY	$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY
	Oneida and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,100±$9kHighest 62% below NY	$153,000±$11kLowest 64% below NY
	Oneida and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$903±$77Highest 44% below NY	$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY
	Oneida and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,778Highest 43% below NY	$2,501Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.2%±10.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Collins and Oneida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 13 yrs older than NY	1950Highest 9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 41% below NY	24 minHighest 26% below NY
Work from home	8%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	11%±5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Collins and Oneida 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	#106 of 484 in NY	#467 of 484 in NY
School district	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	ONEIDA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.