What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Parma has the highest household income ($94k).

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	Parma
People
Population	2,948Lowest	16,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	+3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Highest about the NY average	40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average
	Benton and Parma 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%	25.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Benton and Parma 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%	18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	35.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	4.3%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY	$93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY
	Parma 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	$220,000±$15kLowest 48% below NY
	Benton and Parma 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	$1,216±$111Lowest 25% below NY
	Benton and Parma 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	$5,549Highest 16% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	49.8%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	19.4%Highest NY: 14%	8.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 30% below NY	22 minLowest 32% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%	10.3%±2.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Parma 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	—	#88 of 484 in NY
School district	—	HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	HILTON HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.9
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.