Compare towns
Gorham vs Middlesex vs Peru
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 most expensive homes ($263k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Peru has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Middlesex | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,093 |
1,407Lowest |
6,710Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
| 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% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Peru and Gorham 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% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Peru and Gorham 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 |
$75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
| Peru and Middlesex 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 |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
$203,200±$38kLowest 52% below NY |
| Gorham and Middlesex 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 |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$1,067±$173Lowest 34% 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 |
$3,459Lowest 47% below NY |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Peru 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% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest same as NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 35% below NY |
25 minHighest 22% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.