Compare towns
Potter vs Java vs Benton vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Potter has the most affordable homes ($130k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Potter | Java | Benton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,871 |
2,049 |
2,948Highest |
1,407Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4 about the NY average |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
| Middlesex and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Potter and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,344±$19kLowest 22% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
$75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
| Java and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $130,300±$23kLowest 69% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
| Benton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,005±$136 38% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY |
$1,406±$672 13% below NY |
| Benton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,796Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,391 48% below NY |
$3,459 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
| Potter and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 25% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
25 min 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest 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 | 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.