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.
| Measure | Edwards | Gorham | Java | Potter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| 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.

