Compare towns
Benson vs Hope vs Esperance
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).
Hope has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Esperance has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271 |
587Highest |
248Lowest |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Highest 27% above NY |
50.3±8.5 26% above NY |
48.6±11.9Lowest 22% above NY |
| Benson and Hope 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% |
19.6%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
9.7%±11Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Hope 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% |
23.7%±10.2 NY: 17.9% |
23%±5.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Benson and Hope 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% |
22.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
2.4%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
0.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Hope 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 |
$72,188±$13k 16% below NY |
$73,333±$6kHighest 15% below NY |
| Esperance and Hope 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 |
$191,700±$46kLowest 55% 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±$217 24% below NY |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,551 61% below NY |
$4,276Highest 35% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.9%±98.1 NY: 52.1% |
100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Esperance and Hope 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% |
9.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
26 min 19% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.4%±11.6Highest 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.