Compare towns
Bennington vs Java vs Sheldon vs Hopewell
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 highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has the most renters (18.4% rent).
Hopewell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Sheldon | Hopewell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
3,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+4.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
46±4.2 16% above NY |
| Sheldon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Hopewell 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% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
10.1%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$84,358±$23k about the NY average |
| 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±$24kHighest 42% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$171,800±$33kLowest 59% 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 |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,290±$518Highest 20% below NY |
| Hopewell 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$4,094 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
24%±27.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
17 minLowest 47% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
2.9%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.