What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).

Collins has the most kids (24.4% 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	Windham	Collins
People
Population	1,432Lowest	4,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY	40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	31.4%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9%	21.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Windham and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,477±$17kHighest 11% below NY	$60,905±$5kLowest 29% below NY
	Windham and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY	$153,000±$11kLowest 64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$295Highest 48% below NY	$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY
	Windham and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,363Highest 49% below NY	$2,501Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1%	59.4%±38.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Windham and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%	9.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 18% below NY	24 minLowest 26% below NY
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%	11%±5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Windham 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	—	#467 of 484 in NY
School district	—	GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.