Compare towns
Middlesex vs Wayne vs Potter
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%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($267k median).
Potter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Wayne | Potter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,407 |
1,033Lowest |
1,871Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 39% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below 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% |
12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
29%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Potter and Middlesex 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 |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$67,344±$19kLowest 22% 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 |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$130,300±$23kLowest 69% below NY |
| Wayne 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 13% below NY |
$1,031±$304 36% below NY |
$1,005±$136Lowest 38% below NY |
| Middlesex and Wayne 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 |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$2,796Lowest 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Potter and Wayne 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% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
10%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 22% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Potter 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) | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.