Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Otsego
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Otsego has the most expensive homes ($353k 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 | Exeter | Otsego |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
913 |
3,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
52.1±5.8Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Otsego and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otsego and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$72,891±$16kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$352,600±$42kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Otsego and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Otsego and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,702Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otsego and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #65 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.