Compare towns
Benson vs Wayne 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 youngest population (median age 50.7).
Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Wayne | Decatur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
1,033Highest |
328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
55.3±7.6 39% above NY |
| Wayne and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Decatur 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% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±6.1Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$69,375±$19kLowest 19% below NY |
| Wayne 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 |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$173,500±$40kLowest 59% below NY |
| Wayne and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY |
$765±$109Lowest 53% below NY |
| Wayne and Decatur 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 |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,404 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
50%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Decatur and Wayne 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% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
93% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 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% |
9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Benson and Wayne 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.