Compare towns
Seneca vs Middlesex vs Gorham vs Wales
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Seneca has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Seneca | Middlesex | Gorham | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,407Lowest |
4,093Highest |
3,015 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
| Middlesex and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±5.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Gorham and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY |
$75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
$88,590±$19k 3% above NY |
| Seneca and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$244,800±$33k 42% below NY |
| Gorham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$1,406±$672 13% below NY |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$950±$503Lowest 41% below NY |
| Seneca and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,459 47% below NY |
$3,497 47% below NY |
$4,782Highest 27% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
9.4%Highest NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% below NY |
25 min 22% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
7.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #246 of 484 in NY | #321 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| 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.