What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springwater has the most affordable homes ($148k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Springwater	Middlesex
People
Population	2,503Highest	1,407Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.6±4.1Lowest 15% above NY	55.3±6Highest 39% above NY
	Middlesex and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Middlesex and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Springwater and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,670±$16kHighest about the NY average	$75,750±$21kLowest 12% below NY
	Springwater and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$147,500±$17kLowest 65% below NY	$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY
	Middlesex and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,063±$438Lowest 34% below NY	$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY
	Middlesex and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,579Highest 46% below NY	$3,459Lowest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.8%±22Highest NY: 52.1%	29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Springwater and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest NY: 14%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974 15 yrs newer than NY	1974 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% below NY	25 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	5.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9%
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

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.