Compare towns
Benton vs Java vs Russia
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).
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 | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,948Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,272 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.9±2.9 10% above NY |
| Java and Russia 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% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Russia 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% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.9% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Russia 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±$13kLowest 13% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
| Java and Russia 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 |
$232,200±$44k 45% below NY |
| Benton and Russia 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 |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
| Benton and Russia 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 |
$2,939Lowest 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Russia 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% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 30% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Benton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.