Compare towns
Benson vs Hope 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 people working from home (9.6%).
Hope has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Hope | Decatur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
587Highest |
328 |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 27% above NY |
50.3±8.5Lowest 26% 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%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Hope and Decatur 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% |
23.7%±10.2Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.7% NY: 40.2% |
23.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest NY: 7% |
2.4%±3.1 NY: 7% |
4.3%±5Highest NY: 7% |
| Decatur and Hope 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 |
$72,188±$13kHighest 16% below NY |
$69,375±$19kLowest 19% below NY |
| Hope 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 |
$211,300±$106k 50% below NY |
$173,500±$40kLowest 59% below NY |
| Benson and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,225±$217Highest 24% below NY |
$765±$109Lowest 53% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,551 61% below NY |
$3,404Highest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.9%±98.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
50%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Hope 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% |
17.5%Highest NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.3% NY: 54.3% |
93%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
35 minHighest 6% above NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Benson and Hope 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.