Compare towns
Benson vs Otsego vs Shoreham
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 most affordable homes ($242k median).
Otsego has the most renters (29.6% rent).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Otsego | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
3,627Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
52.1±5.8Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2Lowest 33% 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% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shoreham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$72,891±$16kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham and Benson 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. |
$352,600±$42kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$316,400±$34k 5% below U.S. |
| Otsego and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165 15% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,702 51% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| 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.