Compare towns

Edwards vs Gorham vs Java vs Potter

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Edwards has the most affordable homes ($102k median).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Potter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

MeasureEdwardsGorhamJavaPotter
People
Population
1,327Lowest
4,093Highest
2,049
1,871
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.2%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-3.3%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-0.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
34.1±8.7Lowest
14% below NY
48.7±8.8Highest
22% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
35.1±6.7
12% below NY
Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
31%±4.3Highest
NY: 20.5%
19.9%±4.4Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
29%±5.2
NY: 20.5%
Edwards and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±1.6
NY: 17.9%
27.1%±4.7Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
14.4%±3.7Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
12.8%
NY: 40.2%
27.3%Highest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%
NY: 40.2%
10.8%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±0.6Lowest
NY: 7%
3.7%±1.9
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
4.6%±3.7Highest
NY: 7%
Potter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,300±$14k
16% below NY
$64,874±$8kLowest
25% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$67,344±$19k
22% below NY
Java and Edwards are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$101,800±$9kLowest
76% below NY
$263,300±$27kHighest
38% below NY
$223,900±$30k
47% below NY
$130,300±$23k
69% below NY
Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$331Lowest
48% below NY
$1,165±$208Highest
28% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$1,005±$136
38% below NY
Gorham and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,225Lowest
66% below NY
$3,497
47% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$2,796
58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±28.2
NY: 52.1%
70.6%±21.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
41.7%±18.6
NY: 52.1%
Gorham and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%
NY: 14%
9.4%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
10%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
NY: 54.3%
79.7%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
79.5%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Highest
11 yrs newer than NY
1959
same as NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1969
10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% below NY
21 minLowest
35% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
25 min
25% below NY
Work from home
4.1%±4.2Lowest
NY: 14.9%
12.8%±5.3
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
13.4%±4.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
Potter 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 — #246 of 484 in NY — —
School district — GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) — —
High school in town — MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL — —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.2
— —
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.