Compare towns
Bennington vs Darien vs Java vs Sheldon
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).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220Highest |
2,988 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
| Darien and Sheldon 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%±5.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest 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% |
21.8%±6.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$88,423±$15k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below 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 |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% 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 |
— | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon 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% |
8.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
94.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±3.8 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.