Compare towns
Benson vs Otsego vs West Haven
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 expensive homes ($353k median).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
3,627Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
52.1±5.8 34% above U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Otsego 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% |
17.5%±13.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Haven 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% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otsego and West Haven 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% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest 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. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven 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. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% 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 | $4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,702Highest 51% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest 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.