Compare towns
Bennington vs Java vs Marilla 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%).
Java has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Marilla has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
West Monroe has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Marilla | West Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220 |
2,049Lowest |
5,148Highest |
4,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
46.5±5.5 17% above NY |
46.3±4.6 16% above NY |
| Bennington and Marilla 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% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16%±3.9 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%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Marilla 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% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
3%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,050±$10kLowest 4% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$92,787±$23k 8% above NY |
$90,558±$11k 5% above NY |
| Java and Marilla 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±$30k 47% below NY |
$286,400±$36kHighest 32% below NY |
$185,100±$19kLowest 56% below NY |
| Marilla 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 |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$952±$95 41% below NY |
$1,051±$342Highest 35% below NY |
| West Monroe and Marilla 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 |
$5,098Highest 23% below NY |
$4,333 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.9%±44.9 NY: 52.1% |
38.1%±13.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| West Monroe and Marilla 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% NY: 14% |
2.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
92.4% 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 |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
26 minLowest 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #258 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.