Compare towns
Middlesex vs Potter vs Wayne vs Gorham
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%).
Potter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Potter | Wayne | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,407 |
1,871 |
1,033Lowest |
4,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 39% above NY |
35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
| Wayne 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% |
29%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Potter 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 NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% NY: 40.2% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Potter and Gorham 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 |
$67,344±$19k 22% below NY |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
| Wayne 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 |
$130,300±$23kLowest 69% below NY |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$263,300±$27k 38% below NY |
| Wayne 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 13% below NY |
$1,005±$136Lowest 38% below NY |
$1,031±$304 36% below NY |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
| Middlesex and Gorham 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 |
$2,796Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,497 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
10%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NY: 54.3% |
79.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1959Lowest same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 22% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Potter 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) | — | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school 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 |
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.