Compare towns
Black Brook vs Java vs Middlesex vs Tompkins
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Black Brook has the most renters (11.9% rent).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Middlesex has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Black Brook | Java | Middlesex | Tompkins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,315 |
2,049Highest |
1,407 |
1,187Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.5±5.8 42% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
55.3±6 39% above NY |
57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
| Tompkins and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
30.6%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Black Brook and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.1% NY: 40.2% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2 NY: 7% |
| Black Brook and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,852±$20k 21% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY |
| Java and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,200±$48k 52% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
$185,700±$23kLowest 56% 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 | $783±$461 52% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
| Middlesex and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,633 45% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,459 47% below NY |
$2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±32Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Black Brook and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
8.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
91.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 3% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
| Work from home | 3.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Tompkins and Middlesex 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.