Compare towns
Benson vs Wayne vs Hope
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).
Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).
Hope has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
1,033Highest |
587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 27% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
50.3±8.5Lowest 26% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±0.7Highest 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%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.7%±10.2Lowest 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% |
22.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
2.4%±3.1Highest 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 |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$72,188±$13k 16% below NY |
| Wayne 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±$15k 46% below NY |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$211,300±$106kLowest 50% 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±$304Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,225±$217Highest 24% below NY |
| Hope and Wayne 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 |
$2,551 61% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
61.9%±98.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hope 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% |
17.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±3.4Lowest 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.