Compare towns
Benton vs Java vs Richland
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).
Richland has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Richland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,948 |
2,049Lowest |
5,716Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.4±5Highest 12% above NY |
| Richland 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% |
18.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
23.5%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Richland 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% |
18.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1 NY: 7% |
| Java and Richland 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 |
$67,904±$14kLowest 21% 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 |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$163,600±$13kLowest 61% 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±$419 47% below NY |
$856±$81Lowest 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,115Highest 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45.5%±9.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
18% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
67%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 30% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 7% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
8%±5.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Benton and Java 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 | — | — | #316 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | PULASKI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | PULASKI MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.