What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Gorham has the most expensive homes ($263k 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	Clay	Gorham
People
Population	59,995Highest	4,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.8±1Lowest about the NY average	48.7±8.8Highest 22% above NY
	Gorham and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5%	19.9%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Clay and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.7Highest NY: 7%	3.7%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Clay and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,707±$6kHighest 6% above NY	$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,900±$6kLowest 51% below NY	$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$40Highest 24% below NY	$1,165±$208Lowest 28% below NY
	Clay and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,087Highest 23% below NY	$3,497Lowest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±5.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Gorham and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%	9.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	79.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 34% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	13.1%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Clay and Gorham 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	#249 of 484 in NY	#246 of 484 in NY
School district	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN)
High school in town	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL	MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	9.2Lowest
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.