Compare towns
Hope vs Wells vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
Bordering HopeNorthampton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 59.8).
Benson has the most people working from home (9.6%).
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 | Hope | Wells | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 587 |
671Highest |
271Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.3% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 50.3±8.5Lowest 26% above NY |
59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY |
50.7±7.7 27% above NY |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
14.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Hope and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±10.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28.9%±7.6 NY: 17.9% |
34.3%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±3.1 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±5.6Lowest NY: 7% |
| Wells and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,188±$13k 16% below NY |
$74,286±$31kHighest 14% below NY |
$69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY |
| Wells and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $211,300±$106kLowest 50% below NY |
$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY |
$230,100±$15k 46% below NY |
| Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$217 24% below NY |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,551 61% below NY |
$2,588Highest 61% below NY |
$2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±98.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
30%±100 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Hope and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.5%Highest NY: 14% |
4.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% NY: 54.3% |
91.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
43 minHighest 32% above NY |
26 minLowest 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.6%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Benson and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.