What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otto has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).

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	Otto	Collins
People
Population	798Lowest	4,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.4±3.2Highest 34% above NY	40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	33.5%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	21.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Otto and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,385±$12kLowest 30% below NY	$60,905±$5kHighest 29% below NY
	Collins and Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,300±$17kLowest 67% below NY	$153,000±$11kHighest 64% below NY
	Collins and Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$517Highest 46% below NY	$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY
	Otto and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,926Highest 56% below NY	$2,501Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±79.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Collins and Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 1 yr older than NY	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 26% below NY
Work from home	16.9%±15Highest NY: 14.9%	11%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Otto 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	—	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.