Gowanda vs West Valley
Gowanda, New York versus West Valley, New York: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Gowanda edges out West Valley on overall objective livability (43 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Gowanda | West Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $50k | $56k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $45k |
| Home Value | $85k | $98k |
| Monthly Rent | $715 | — |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $758 | $186 |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.84% | 3.29% |
| Income Tax | 10.90% | 10.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.53% | 8.53% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 18.52% | 19.52% |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | 0.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.7 in | 44.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 208.3 in | 108.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 158 days | 158 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 93 days | 88 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 31.2 | 69.9 |
| Air Quality | 50 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1266/100k | 1266/100k |
| Property Crime | 1355/100k | 1355/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 3,211 | 495 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 57.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.17 | 0.19 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.10 | 1.11 |
| Political Leaning | R+30 | R+30 |
| White (%) | 85.4% | 88.1% |
| Black (%) | 0.2% | 2.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 8.8% | 6.7% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.6% | 2.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | — |
| Walkability | 5.8/20 | 5.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 35 mi | 37 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 82.3% | 80.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 18.69 | 0.00 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Gowanda or West Valley more affordable?
- West Valley has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Gowanda's $45k and West Valley's $45k.
- Is Gowanda or West Valley safer?
- West Valley has the lower violent crime rate. Gowanda reports 1266/100k and West Valley reports 1266/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Gowanda or West Valley?
- The median home value is $85k in Gowanda and $98k in West Valley, so homes are more affordable in Gowanda.