Compare towns
Potter vs Middlesex vs Wayland
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%).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($208k median).
Wayland has the most affordable homes ($100k 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 | Middlesex | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,871 |
1,407Lowest |
2,007Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
-9.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
36.5±4.7 8% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
31.5%±6.4Highest 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% |
24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
15.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
1.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Potter and Wayland 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 |
$75,750±$21kHighest 12% below NY |
$74,688±$18k 13% below NY |
| Middlesex 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 |
$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY |
$99,500±$12kLowest 77% below NY |
| Middlesex and Potter 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 |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$808±$159Lowest 50% below NY |
| Middlesex 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 |
$3,459Highest 47% below NY |
$2,938 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.4%±20.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Wayland 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% |
17%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 25% below NY |
25 min 22% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #390 of 484 in NY |
| 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.