Compare towns

Gorham vs Java vs Benton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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.

MeasureGorhamJavaBenton
People
Population
4,093Highest
2,049Lowest
2,948
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+5.3%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
48.7±8.8Highest
22% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
40.6±8.4Lowest
about the NY average
Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±4.4Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
30.1%±5.2Highest
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+
27.1%±4.7Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
24.8%±4.9
NY: 17.9%
Gorham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.3%
NY: 40.2%
24.6%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
27.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9Highest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
1.1%±1Lowest
NY: 7%
Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,874±$8kLowest
25% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$74,767±$13k
13% 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
$263,300±$27kHighest
38% below NY
$223,900±$30kLowest
47% below NY
$258,600±$51k
39% below NY
Gorham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,165±$208
28% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$1,541±$628Highest
5% below NY
Benton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,497
47% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$3,391Lowest
48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
70.6%±21.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
14.5%±10.3
NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line
9.4%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
19.4%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.7%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
75.9%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
same as NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1964Highest
5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
35% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
23 min
30% below NY
Work from home
12.8%±5.3Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
11.8%±5.4
NY: 14.9%
Gorham 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 #246 of 484 in NY — —
School district GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) — —
High school in town MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL — —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.2
— —
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.