Compare towns
Benson vs Summit 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%).
Summit has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Decatur has the most homeowners (93%).
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 | Summit | Decatur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
976Highest |
328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.6% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY |
55.7±7.3Highest 40% above NY |
55.3±7.6 39% above NY |
| Summit and Decatur 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% |
17.7%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Summit and Decatur 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% |
37.7%±8.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Summit 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
0%±2Lowest 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 |
$74,375±$26kHighest 13% below NY |
$69,375±$19kLowest 19% below NY |
| Summit 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 |
$150,000±$29kLowest 65% below NY |
$173,500±$40k 59% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $765±$109 53% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528 62% below NY |
$2,230Lowest 66% below NY |
$3,404Highest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Decatur and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NY: 14% |
3.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92.7% NY: 54.3% |
93%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
34 min 3% above NY |
35 minHighest 6% above NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±3.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Benson and Decatur 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.