Compare towns
Ashford vs Java vs Middlesex vs Petersburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Petersburgh has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
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.
| Measure | Ashford | Java | Middlesex | Petersburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,834 |
2,049Highest |
1,407 |
1,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
-10%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.3±6.9 31% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
51.3±6.3 29% above NY |
| Middlesex and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±5 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
16%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±3.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.8%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.1% NY: 40.2% |
20% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Java and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,558±$11k 10% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$75,750±$21kLowest 12% below NY |
$77,692±$15k 10% below NY |
| Java and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $194,600±$43k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
$170,300±$23kLowest 60% below NY |
| Java and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $654±$132Lowest 60% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$1,100±$630 32% below NY |
| Middlesex and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,079Highest 38% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,459 47% below NY |
$3,223Lowest 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.4%±79.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
43.2%±42.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Petersburgh and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 7% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
30 min 9% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.1%±5.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.3%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.