Compare towns
Bennington vs Java vs Sardinia 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 oldest population (median age 46.7).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sardinia has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
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 | Sardinia | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,703 |
3,015 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
42.5±7.5Lowest 7% above NY |
43.9±6.6 10% above NY |
| Bennington and Java 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% |
22.4%±6.5 NY: 20.5% |
25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Sardinia 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%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Wales 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% NY: 40.2% |
21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
5%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Sardinia and Java 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 |
$84,583±$34kLowest about the NY average |
$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±$30k 47% below NY |
$218,900±$19kLowest 48% below NY |
$244,800±$33kHighest 42% below NY |
| Wales 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±$419 47% below NY |
$855±$83Lowest 47% below NY |
$950±$503Highest 41% below NY |
| Wales and Bennington 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
$4,782Highest 27% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Bennington and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% 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 |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
30 min 10% below NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
7.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Sardinia 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 | — | — | — | #321 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.