Compare towns
Potter vs Middlesex vs Gorham vs Benton
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Middlesex | Gorham | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,871 |
1,407Lowest |
4,093Highest |
2,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
40.6±8.4 about the NY average |
| Middlesex and Gorham 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% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest 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% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Benton 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% |
21.1% NY: 40.2% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
27.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest 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 |
$75,750±$21kHighest 12% below NY |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
| Middlesex and Benton 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 |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$258,600±$51k 39% below NY |
| Gorham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,005±$136Lowest 38% below NY |
$1,406±$672 13% below NY |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$1,541±$628Highest 5% 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 |
$3,459 47% below NY |
$3,497Highest 47% below NY |
$3,391 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.7% NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1959Lowest same as NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 25% below NY |
25 minHighest 22% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
23 min 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Potter 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) | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — |
| High school 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 |
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.