What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buchanan has the most expensive homes ($526k median).

Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($208k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Buchanan	Middlesex
People
Population	2,397Highest	1,407Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.5±3.5Lowest 3% below NY	55.3±6Highest 39% above NY
Kids under 18	23%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5%	18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Buchanan and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,218±$23kHighest 49% above NY	$75,750±$21kLowest 12% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,500±$55kHighest 24% above NY	$208,100±$62kLowest 51% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,953±$836Highest 20% above NY	$1,406±$672Lowest 13% below NY
	Buchanan and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY	$3,459Lowest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34%±23Highest NY: 52.1%	29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Buchanan and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest NY: 14%	5.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	25 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	14.2%±6Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Middlesex and Buchanan 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

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.