Compare towns
Bennington vs Java vs Wales vs Darien
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).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Darien has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Wales | Darien |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220Highest |
2,049Lowest |
3,015 |
2,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
| Darien 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%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
19%±5.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Java 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% |
22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
21.8%±6.2 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% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
17%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Darien 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 |
$88,590±$19k 3% above NY |
$88,423±$15kLowest 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±$24k 42% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$244,800±$33kHighest 42% below NY |
$211,400±$21kLowest 50% 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±$419Lowest 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 |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,782 27% below NY |
$4,910Highest 25% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
0%±48.3Lowest 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% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
8.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
94.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7.2%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #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.