Compare towns

Bennington vs Cairo vs Java

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Cairo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Java has the most affordable homes ($224k 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.

MeasureBenningtonCairoJava
People
Population
3,220
6,700Highest
2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
NY: +4.2%
-0.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
46.7±5.8Highest
17% above NY
44.2±4.2Lowest
11% above NY
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
Bennington and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±4.9
NY: 20.5%
17.9%±3.5Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
Java and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.4%±4.5
NY: 17.9%
22.9%±4.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Cairo and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26%
NY: 40.2%
28.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7Lowest
NY: 7%
3.7%±1.5Highest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
Cairo and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,050±$10k
4% above NY
$79,643±$22kLowest
7% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
Java and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$244,400±$24k
42% below NY
$263,400±$18kHighest
38% below NY
$223,900±$30kLowest
47% below NY
Cairo and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$344
42% below NY
$1,015±$305Highest
37% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
Cairo and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,591Highest
30% below NY
$4,246
35% below NY
$3,775Lowest
43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.4%±29
NY: 52.1%
45.1%±16.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Cairo and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
NY: 14%
10.5%Highest
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
NY: 54.3%
75.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
10 yrs newer than NY
1973Highest
14 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
about the NY average
29 min
13% below NY
27 minLowest
17% below NY
Work from home
10.5%±4.9
NY: 14.9%
11.1%±6.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Cairo and Bennington 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 — #461 of 484 in NY —
School district — CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
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.