Compare towns
Benson vs Jerusalem vs Wayne 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 renters (13.3% rent).
Jerusalem has the youngest population (median age 34).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Esperance has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Jerusalem | Wayne | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271 |
4,278Highest |
1,033 |
248Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 27% above NY |
34±4.4Lowest 15% below NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
48.6±11.9 22% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 NY: 20.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3 NY: 20.5% |
9.7%±11Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Jerusalem and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
23%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Wayne and Benson 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% |
45.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
42.3% NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
21.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8 NY: 7% |
0.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY |
$86,780±$11k about the NY average |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$73,333±$6k 15% below NY |
| Wayne and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 46% below NY |
$320,900±$59kHighest 24% below NY |
$266,700±$150k 37% below NY |
$191,700±$46kLowest 55% below NY |
| Jerusalem and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $870±$116Lowest 46% below NY |
$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY |
— |
| Wayne and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
$4,523Highest 31% below NY |
$3,967 40% below NY |
$4,276 35% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.3%±43.4 NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Esperance and Jerusalem 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% NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
9.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 20% below NY |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
26 min 19% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
16.9%±5.2 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.4%±11.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Esperance and Jerusalem 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.