Compare towns
Bennington vs Ellenburg vs Java vs West Monroe
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%).
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
West Monroe has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Ellenburg | Java | West Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220 |
1,992Lowest |
2,049 |
4,060Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY |
46.7±4.5Highest 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
46.3±4.6 16% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
16%±3.9Lowest 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% |
24.4%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest 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% |
16.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
25.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1 NY: 7% |
| Java and Bennington 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 |
$73,125±$10kLowest 15% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,558±$11k 5% above NY |
| Java and West Monroe 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 |
$123,000±$16kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$185,100±$19k 56% 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±$344 42% below NY |
$801±$192Lowest 51% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,051±$342Highest 35% below NY |
| West Monroe 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 |
$2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,333 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.1%±13.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| West Monroe 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% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
83.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
34 minHighest 4% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 minLowest 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±3.1 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.