Compare towns

Whitehall vs Jay vs Gowanda

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitehall has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Gowanda has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureWhitehallJayGowanda
People
Population
2,690Highest
471Lowest
2,683
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.8±4.8Lowest
5% below U.S.
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
37.6±6.2
3% below U.S.
Jay and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.7%±5
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
30.2%±9.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gowanda and Whitehall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
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
41% below U.S.
$74,792±$25kHighest
7% below U.S.
$51,828±$2k
36% below U.S.
Jay and Gowanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$102,000±$9k
69% below U.S.
$234,200±$45kHighest
30% below U.S.
$96,400±$13kLowest
71% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$96Highest
31% below U.S.
—
$753±$51Lowest
47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,178
about the U.S. average
$3,588Highest
15% above U.S.
$2,663Lowest
15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.6%±18.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.4%±14.3
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
0.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
3.3%±1.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.