Compare towns
Wales vs Java vs Gorham vs Aurora
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Java has the most affordable homes ($224k median).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Aurora has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
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.
| Measure | Wales | Java | Gorham | Aurora |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,015 |
2,049Lowest |
4,093 |
13,882Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
+1.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
51.6±3.2Highest 30% above NY |
| Aurora and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.7%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
51.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Gorham and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,590±$19k 3% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
$102,065±$9kHighest 19% above NY |
| Aurora and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,800±$33k 42% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$263,300±$27k 38% below NY |
$364,800±$20kHighest 14% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$503 41% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,165±$208Highest 28% below NY |
$1,116±$175 31% below NY |
| Gorham and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,782 27% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,497Lowest 47% below NY |
$6,759Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
39.4%±12.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% NY: 14% |
3.7% NY: 14% |
9.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 25% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
21.5%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Aurora 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 | #321 of 484 in NY | — | #246 of 484 in NY | #78 of 484 in NY |
| School district | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | EAST AURORA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | EAST AURORA HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2Lowest |
9.7Highest |
| 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.