Compare towns
Benson vs Esperance vs Decatur
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most expensive homes ($230k median).
Esperance has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Decatur has the most affordable homes ($174k 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 | Benson | Esperance | Decatur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271 |
248Lowest |
328Highest |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 27% above NY |
48.6±11.9Lowest 22% above NY |
55.3±7.6Highest 39% above NY |
| Decatur and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 NY: 20.5% |
9.7%±11Lowest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Decatur and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
23%±5.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±6.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Benson and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
0.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.3%±5Highest NY: 7% |
| Decatur and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY |
$73,333±$6kHighest 15% below NY |
$69,375±$19kLowest 19% below NY |
| Esperance and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15kHighest 46% below NY |
$191,700±$46k 55% below NY |
$173,500±$40kLowest 59% below NY |
| Benson and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $765±$109 53% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
$4,276Highest 35% below NY |
$3,404 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
50%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Esperance and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.7%Highest NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.3% NY: 54.3% |
93%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
26 min 19% below NY |
35 minHighest 6% above NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
18.4%±11.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Esperance and Benson 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 |
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.