Compare towns
Benson vs Thurman vs Wells
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Thurman has the most people working from home (19%).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($269k 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 | Thurman | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
977Highest |
671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY |
52.7±3.8 32% above NY |
59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY |
| Wells and Thurman 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% |
16.8%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
| Thurman and Wells 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% |
28.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28.9%±7.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Benson and Wells 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% |
24.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest NY: 7% |
1.7%±2.5 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Wells and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13k 19% below NY |
$58,750±$14kLowest 32% below NY |
$74,286±$31kHighest 14% below NY |
| Wells 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±$15k 46% below NY |
$197,400±$43kLowest 53% below NY |
$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,175±$599 34% above NY |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528 62% below NY |
$2,368Lowest 64% below NY |
$2,588Highest 61% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
23.1%±77.8 NY: 52.1% |
30%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Wells and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NY: 14% |
19.2%Highest NY: 14% |
4.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
43 minHighest 32% above NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
19%±8.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Thurman 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.