Compare towns
Gorham vs Java vs Wales vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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.
| Measure | Gorham | Java | Wales | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,093Highest |
2,049 |
3,015 |
1,407Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
| Middlesex and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$88,590±$19k 3% above NY |
$75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
| Java and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$244,800±$33k 42% below NY |
$208,100±$62kLowest 51% below NY |
| Gorham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$950±$503 41% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
| Middlesex and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,497 47% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,782Highest 27% below NY |
$3,459Lowest 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 same as NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
25 min 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #321 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school in town | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.