What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

Collins has the most affordable homes ($153k median).

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	Pendleton	Collins
People
Population	7,034Highest	4,643Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±4.1Highest 17% above NY	40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average
	Pendleton and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Collins and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	21.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Pendleton and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Pendleton and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$27kHighest 32% above NY	$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,300±$39kHighest 31% below NY	$153,000±$11kLowest 64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$119Highest 39% below NY	$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY
	Pendleton and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,623Highest about the NY average	$2,501Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Collins and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 31% below NY	24 minHighest 26% below NY
Work from home	18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9%	11%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Pendleton 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	#67 of 484 in NY	#467 of 484 in NY
School district	STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.5	—
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.