Compare towns
Bennington vs Java vs Wethersfield 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 most homeowners (95.2%).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
West Monroe has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Wethersfield | West Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220 |
2,049 |
815Lowest |
4,060Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest 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±4.4 16% above NY |
46.3±4.6 16% above NY |
| Bennington and West Monroe 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% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
16%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wethersfield 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%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Java 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% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Wethersfield 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±$10kLowest 4% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$90,558±$11k 5% above NY |
| Wethersfield and Java 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 |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
$185,100±$19k 56% 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±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
$1,051±$342Highest 35% below NY |
| West Monroe 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 |
$2,787Lowest 58% 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% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
38.1%±13.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| West Monroe and Wethersfield 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% |
9%Highest NY: 14% |
5.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977 18 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% |
6.8%±3.4Lowest 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. | ||||
| 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.