Compare towns
Benson vs Wayne vs Windham vs German
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).
Windham has the most people working from home (17.1%).
German has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Windham | German |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
1,033 |
1,432Highest |
274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
56.5±5.1 42% above NY |
53.8±5.8 35% above NY |
| Wayne and Windham 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%±3 NY: 20.5% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.3%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| German 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% |
31.4%±5.2 NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±7.5Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
43.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
6.6%±5Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±2.6 NY: 7% |
| Windham and German 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 |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$76,477±$17k 11% below NY |
$67,813±$11kLowest 21% below NY |
| Wayne and Windham 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±$150k 37% below NY |
$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY |
$112,500±$15kLowest 73% below NY |
| Windham and Wayne 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 |
$850±$295 48% below NY |
$817±$260Lowest 50% below NY |
| Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528 62% below NY |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,363 49% below NY |
$1,844Lowest 72% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.3%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Windham 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% |
7.4% NY: 14% |
12.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89% NY: 54.3% |
84.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 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 |
28 min 13% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
43 minHighest 31% above NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.4%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Windham 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 | 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.