Compare towns
Benson vs Wells 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 most people working from home (9.6%).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
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 | Wells | German |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
671Highest |
274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.3% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY |
59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY |
53.8±5.8 35% above NY |
| Wells and German 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% |
14.8%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
15.3%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| German 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% |
28.9%±7.6 NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±7.5Lowest 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% |
19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 NY: 7% |
3.6%±2.6Highest NY: 7% |
| German and Wells 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 |
$74,286±$31kHighest 14% below NY |
$67,813±$11kLowest 21% 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 |
$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY |
$112,500±$15kLowest 73% 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 | — | — | $817±$260 50% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528 62% below NY |
$2,588Highest 61% below NY |
$1,844Lowest 72% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
30%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.3%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Wells and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NY: 14% |
4.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NY: 54.3% |
91.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 20% below NY |
43 minHighest 32% above NY |
43 min 31% above NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.4%±4.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Benson and German 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.