Compare towns
Benton vs Romulus vs Varick
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%).
Romulus has the most affordable homes ($179k median).
Varick has the youngest population (median age 33.1).
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 | Romulus | Varick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,948 |
3,110Highest |
1,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-25.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-10.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.6±8.4Highest about the NY average |
36.8±2.7 8% below NY |
33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY |
| Benton and Romulus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.1%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
15.5%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
30.3%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Varick and Benton 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% |
14.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
18.2%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Varick 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% |
13.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Highest NY: 7% |
0.6%±0.6 NY: 7% |
0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
| Benton and Romulus 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 |
$69,447±$6kLowest 19% below NY |
$80,250±$8kHighest 7% below NY |
| Varick 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±$51k 39% below NY |
$178,800±$47kLowest 58% below NY |
$267,200±$41kHighest 37% below NY |
| Varick and Benton 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 |
$1,059±$93Lowest 35% below NY |
$1,279±$88 21% below NY |
| Benton and Varick 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 |
$2,688Lowest 59% below NY |
$4,604Highest 30% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.3%±19.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
29.6%±36.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Romulus and Varick 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% |
18.6% NY: 14% |
17.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NY: 54.3% |
70.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1958Lowest 1 yr older than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 30% below NY |
23 minHighest 29% below NY |
23 minHighest 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Varick and Benton 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 | — | #449 of 484 in NY | — |
| 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.