Compare towns
Plattsburgh vs Middlesex vs Tonawanda
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plattsburgh has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Tonawanda has the most renters (26.8% rent).
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 | Plattsburgh | Middlesex | Tonawanda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,830 |
1,943Lowest |
15,030Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±1.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Plattsburgh and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plattsburgh and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Tonawanda and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,546±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$58,326±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,900±$11k 46% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$173,600±$7kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,053±$86 25% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$835±$176Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,573Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,089 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tonawanda and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Tonawanda 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 | #153 of 484 in NY | — | #432 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | TONAWANDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | TONAWANDA MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.