Compare towns
Jay vs Middlesex vs Black Brook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Black Brook has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Jay | Middlesex | Black Brook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,354Highest |
1,407 |
1,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6Lowest 23% above NY |
55.3±6 39% above NY |
56.5±5.8Highest 42% above NY |
| Black Brook and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
36%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4.9%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Black Brook and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,380±$19k 16% below NY |
$75,750±$21kHighest 12% below NY |
$67,852±$20kLowest 21% below NY |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,900±$22kLowest 54% below NY |
$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY |
$202,200±$48k 52% below NY |
| Middlesex and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,272±$366 22% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$783±$461Lowest 52% below NY |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741Highest 43% below NY |
$3,459Lowest 47% below NY |
$3,633 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
46.9%±32Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Black Brook and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
32 minHighest 3% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.

