Compare towns
Marilla vs Java vs Bennington vs Elma
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 most affordable homes ($224k median).
Bennington has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Elma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Marilla | Java | Bennington | Elma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,148 |
2,049Lowest |
3,220 |
11,687Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
+3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.5±5.5 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY |
43.8±4.6Lowest 10% above NY |
| Bennington and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Elma and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Elma and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26% NY: 40.2% |
44%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
4%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Elma and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,787±$23k 8% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$89,050±$10kLowest 4% above NY |
$116,460±$12kHighest 35% above NY |
| Elma and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,400±$36k 32% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$244,400±$24k 42% below NY |
$357,900±$27kHighest 16% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $952±$95Highest 41% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$942±$344 42% below NY |
$952±$472Highest 41% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,098Highest 23% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,591 30% below NY |
$4,999 24% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±44.9 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
29.9%±17Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Elma and Marilla are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
3.7% NY: 14% |
8%Highest NY: 14% |
3.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
88.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
22 minLowest 31% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
12.2%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Elma and Bennington 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 | #258 of 484 in NY | — | — | #90 of 484 in NY |
| School district | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | IROQUOIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.