Compare towns
Bennington vs Java vs Argyle vs Wales
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%).
Java has the most affordable homes ($224k median).
Argyle has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Java | Argyle | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220 |
2,049Lowest |
3,636Highest |
3,015 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
50.1±3.9Highest 26% above NY |
43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
| Argyle and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Argyle 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% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.3%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Argyle 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% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.5% NY: 40.2% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.7 NY: 7% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Java and Argyle 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$83,000±$14kLowest 3% below NY |
$88,590±$19k 3% 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 |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$249,300±$26kHighest 41% below NY |
$244,800±$33k 42% below NY |
| Argyle and Wales 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 |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,068±$124Highest 34% below NY |
$950±$503 41% below NY |
| Argyle and Wales 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 |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$5,324Highest 19% below NY |
$4,782 27% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45%±49.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Argyle and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.5% NY: 14% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
36 minHighest 11% above NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.2%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #343 of 484 in NY | #321 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | ARGYLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | ARGYLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.