Compare towns
Middlesex vs Java vs South Bristol 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
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
South Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Potter has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | South Bristol | Potter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,407Lowest |
2,049Highest |
1,624 |
1,871 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+3.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 39% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
59.3±2.9Highest 49% above NY |
35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY |
| South Bristol 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% |
10.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
29%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Potter 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%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
31.2%±3Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
47.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
4.6%±3.7 NY: 7% |
| South Bristol and Potter 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±$24k 11% above NY |
$97,148±$14kHighest 13% above NY |
$67,344±$19kLowest 22% below NY |
| South Bristol and Java 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 |
$309,600±$31kHighest 27% below NY |
$130,300±$23kLowest 69% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$672 13% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,417±$508Highest 13% below NY |
$1,005±$136 38% below NY |
| South Bristol 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$5,205Highest 21% below NY |
$2,796Lowest 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44.1%±59.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
| South Bristol and Potter 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% |
6.5% NY: 14% |
10%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
92.8% NY: 54.3% |
79.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 22% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.6%±3.3 NY: 14.9% |
13.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and South Bristol 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.


