Compare towns
Java vs Benton vs Middlesex vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Barrington has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Java | Benton | Middlesex | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,948Highest |
1,407Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
-8.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
44.8±3.4 13% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±1 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
0.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Java and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY |
$75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
$90,938±$16k 6% above NY |
| Java and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY |
$208,100±$62kLowest 51% below NY |
$255,800±$32k 40% below NY |
| Benton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,541±$628 5% below NY |
$1,406±$672 13% below NY |
$1,574±$667Highest about the NY average |
| Barrington and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,391Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,459 47% below NY |
$3,463 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1% |
10.3%±84.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Middlesex and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
5.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
93.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% below NY |
23 min 30% below NY |
25 min 22% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±3.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.