What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Java has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Benton	Java
People
Population	2,948Highest	2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above 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%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Benton and Java 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%	19.5%±3.6Lowest 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%	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Java and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above 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	$223,900±$30kLowest 47% 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	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY
	Benton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,391Lowest 48% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Benton and Java 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%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Java 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

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.