What stands out worked out from the figures below

Persia has the most people working from home (4.2%).

Gowanda has the most kids (30.2% 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	Persia	Gowanda
People
Population	2,048Lowest	2,683Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.7±15Highest 5% above NY	37.6±6.2Lowest 6% below NY
	Persia and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±5.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.2%±9.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Gowanda and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	18.5%±5.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Persia and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest NY: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Persia and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,495±$8kHighest 37% below NY	$51,828±$2kLowest 40% below NY
	Persia and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$100,000±$23kHighest 76% below NY	$96,400±$13kLowest 77% below NY
	Persia and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$765±$65Highest 53% below NY	$753±$51Lowest 54% below NY
	Persia and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,655Lowest 60% below NY	$2,663Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.1%±16Lowest NY: 52.1%	62.4%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Gowanda and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.9%Highest NY: 14%	16.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	72.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Highest 18 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 18% below NY	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	4.2%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%	3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Persia and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.