Compare towns
Benton vs Edwards vs Java vs Potter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Edwards has the most affordable homes ($102k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Potter has the most people working from home (13.4%).
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 | Benton | Edwards | Java | Potter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,948Highest |
1,327Lowest |
2,049 |
1,871 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.6±8.4 about the NY average |
34.1±8.7Lowest 14% below NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
35.1±6.7 12% below NY |
| Java and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.1%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
31%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
29%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Edwards and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.7%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
12.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1 NY: 7% |
0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Potter and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
$72,300±$14k 16% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$67,344±$19kLowest 22% below NY |
| Java and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY |
$101,800±$9kLowest 76% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$130,300±$23k 69% below NY |
| Benton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY |
$850±$331Lowest 48% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,005±$136 38% below NY |
| Benton and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,391 48% below NY |
$2,225Lowest 66% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,796 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
13.2%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Potter and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 30% below NY |
29 minHighest 11% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.1%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Potter and Benton 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.