What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitehall has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.7%).

Gowanda has the most people working from home (3.3%).

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	Whitehall	Gowanda
People
Population	2,690Highest	2,683Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.8±4.8Lowest 8% below NY	37.6±6.2Highest 6% below NY
	Gowanda and Whitehall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.7%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.2%±9.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Gowanda and Whitehall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.5%±5.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Gowanda and Whitehall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Whitehall and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,683±$8kLowest 45% below NY	$51,828±$2kHighest 40% below NY
	Gowanda and Whitehall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$102,000±$9kHighest 76% below NY	$96,400±$13kLowest 77% below NY
	Whitehall and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$975±$96Highest 40% below NY	$753±$51Lowest 54% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,178Highest 52% below NY	$2,663Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.6%±18.4Highest NY: 52.1%	62.4%±14.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Whitehall and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	29.4%Highest NY: 14%	16.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	72.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 21% below NY	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	0.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	3.3%±1.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Gowanda and Whitehall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.