Compare towns
Middlesex vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Potter
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 oldest population (median age 55.3).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Potter has the most affordable homes ($130k 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 | Jay | Sheldon | Potter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,407 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,871 |
| 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% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.3±6Highest 42% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
35.1±6.7Lowest 10% below 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Potter and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest 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% |
4.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Potter 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 |
$67,344±$19kLowest 17% 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±$62k 37% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$130,300±$23kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Jay 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. |
$1,005±$136Lowest 29% 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 | $3,459 11% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$2,796Lowest 10% below 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% |
41.7%±18.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Potter 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% |
10%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% |
79.5%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. |
1969Lowest 11 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. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.