Compare towns

Middlesex vs Jay vs Black Brook

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most kids (18% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.

MeasureMiddlesexJayBlack Brook
People
Population
1,407Highest
471Lowest
1,315
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.3±6
42% above U.S.
52.1±10.5Lowest
34% above U.S.
56.5±5.8Highest
45% above U.S.
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%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3
U.S.: 22%
10.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
36%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$75,750±$21kHighest
6% below U.S.
$74,792±$25k
7% below U.S.
$67,852±$20kLowest
16% below U.S.
Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$208,100±$62k
37% below U.S.
$234,200±$45kHighest
30% below U.S.
$202,200±$48kLowest
39% below U.S.
Jay and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,406±$672Highest
about the U.S. average
—
$783±$461Lowest
45% below U.S.
Middlesex and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,459Lowest
11% above U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$3,633Highest
16% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.1%±39Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±32Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Black Brook and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
18.2%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
3.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jay and Middlesex 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) Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.