Compare towns
Middlesex vs Walden vs Gorham 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
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Walden | Gorham | Black Brook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,407 |
1,037Lowest |
4,093Highest |
1,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 42% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
48.7±8.8Lowest 25% 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%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Middlesex 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
36%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Black Brook and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Black Brook and Walden 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. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$64,874±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$67,852±$20k 16% below U.S. |
| Walden 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. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$263,300±$27kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$202,200±$48kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Walden 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 |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$1,165±$208 18% below U.S. |
$783±$461Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Gorham 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. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,497 12% above U.S. |
$3,633 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±32 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Walden 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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) | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — |
| High school 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.