Compare towns
Middlesex vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Gorham
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 affordable homes ($208k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Jay | Sheldon | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,407 |
471Lowest |
2,267 |
4,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.3±6Highest 42% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.7±8.8 25% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Gorham 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%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% 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% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Sheldon 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 6% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$64,874±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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±$62kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$263,300±$27k 21% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Gorham 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 |
— | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,165±$208Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sheldon 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. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,497 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #246 of 484 in NY |
| School district | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.