Compare towns
Benton vs Java vs Potter 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).
Potter has the most affordable homes ($130k median).
Seneca has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Potter | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,948Highest |
2,049 |
1,871Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.6±8.4 about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
| Seneca and Java 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% |
29%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Potter 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%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Seneca 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% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$67,344±$19kLowest 22% 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 |
$130,300±$23kLowest 69% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 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 |
$1,005±$136 38% 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 |
$2,796Lowest 58% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10% NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.5% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1969Highest 10 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 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 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.