What stands out worked out from the figures below

Panama has the most renters (44.7% rent).

Gerry has the most kids (20.9% 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	Panama	Gerry
People
Population	451Lowest	1,668Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.5% NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±6.9Lowest 17% above NY	52.4±5.7Highest 32% above NY
	Gerry and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.9%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	23.3%±6.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	29.9%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Gerry and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	23.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.8Highest NY: 7%	3.4%±2.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Panama and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,865±$8kLowest 29% below NY	$68,667±$12kHighest 20% below NY
	Gerry and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$105,400±$14kLowest 75% below NY	$119,200±$10kHighest 72% below NY
	Gerry and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$785±$43Lowest 52% below NY	$1,138±$260Highest 30% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Lowest 62% below NY	$2,606Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±24.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	61.2%±16.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Gerry and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest NY: 14%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	75.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	4.9%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Gerry and Panama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.7
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.