Compare towns
Middlesex vs Java vs Benton 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
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Black Brook has the most affordable homes ($202k median).
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 | Middlesex | Java | Benton | Black Brook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,407 |
2,049 |
2,948Highest |
1,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 39% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
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 | 18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
36%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.9%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Black Brook and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
$67,852±$20kLowest 21% below NY |
| Java and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY |
$202,200±$48kLowest 52% below NY |
| Benton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$672 13% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY |
$783±$461Lowest 52% below NY |
| Benton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,459 47% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,391Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,633 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 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 | 5.8% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 22% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
32 minHighest 3% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.