Compare towns
Bennington vs Gorham vs Seneca 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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Seneca has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Gorham | Seneca | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220 |
4,093Highest |
2,622 |
2,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Bennington and Gorham 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% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Sheldon 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% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Gorham and Sheldon 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 |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Seneca 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 |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Gorham 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 |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Seneca and Gorham 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 |
$3,497 47% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Gorham and Seneca 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 | — | #246 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | — |
| High school in town | — | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| 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.