Compare towns
Bennington vs Darien vs Ellenburg 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 most people working from home (10.5%).
Darien has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Bennington | Darien | Ellenburg | Java |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220Highest |
2,988 |
1,992Lowest |
2,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
46.7±4.5 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
| Darien and Bennington 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% |
19%±5.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Ellenburg and Java 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% |
21.8%±6.2 NY: 17.9% |
24.4%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Ellenburg 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17% NY: 40.2% |
16.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Darien 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 |
$88,423±$15k about the NY average |
$73,125±$10kLowest 15% 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±$24kHighest 42% below NY |
$211,400±$21k 50% below NY |
$123,000±$16kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
| Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$344Highest 42% below NY |
— | $801±$192Lowest 51% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
| Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,591 30% below NY |
$4,910Highest 25% below NY |
$2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Bennington and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NY: 14% |
8.7% NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
94.7% NY: 54.3% |
83.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
34 minHighest 4% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
— |
| 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.