Compare towns
Potter vs Java vs Wayland 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
Potter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Wayland has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($263k 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 | Potter | Java | Wayland | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,871Lowest |
2,049 |
2,007 |
4,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-9.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
36.5±4.7 8% below NY |
48.7±8.8Highest 22% above NY |
| Gorham 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% |
31.5%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wayland and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
13.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Java 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% |
15.3% NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest 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 | $67,344±$19k 22% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$74,688±$18k 13% below NY |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
| Java and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $130,300±$23k 69% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$99,500±$12kLowest 77% below NY |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
| Gorham 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±$419 47% below NY |
$808±$159Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,165±$208Highest 28% below NY |
| Gorham and Potter 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 |
$2,938 55% below NY |
$3,497 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.4%±20.9 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Wayland 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% |
17%Highest NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
79.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Potter and Gorham 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 | — | — | #390 of 484 in NY | #246 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school 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.