Compare towns
Benton vs Java vs Middlesex vs Seneca
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%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Seneca has the most affordable homes ($193k 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 | Benton | Java | Middlesex | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,948Highest |
2,049 |
1,407Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Middlesex and Seneca 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%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 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% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Middlesex 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% NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Java and Seneca 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±$30k 47% below NY |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% 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±$628 5% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,406±$672 13% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Benton 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,459 47% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Middlesex 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 30% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
25 min 22% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.