What stands out worked out from the figures below

Corning has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.6%).

Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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	Corning	Middlesex
People
Population	5,829Highest	1,407Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.6±3.6Lowest 5% above NY	55.3±6Highest 39% above NY
Kids under 18	24.8%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Corning and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Middlesex and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,482±$10kHighest about the NY average	$75,750±$21kLowest 12% below NY
	Corning and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$167,600±$14kLowest 60% below NY	$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY
	Middlesex and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,289±$219Lowest 20% below NY	$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY
	Middlesex and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,895Highest 41% below NY	$3,459Lowest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±15Highest NY: 52.1%	29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Corning and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest NY: 14%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 38% below NY	25 minHighest 22% below NY
Work from home	8.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#393 of 484 in NY	—
School district	CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN)
High school in town	CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	4.0	—
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.