Compare towns
Milo vs Java vs Princetown 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
Milo has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Princetown has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
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.
| Measure | Milo | Java | Princetown | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,823Highest |
2,049 |
1,860Lowest |
2,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.2 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
47.9±4.7Highest 20% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
| Princetown and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Milo and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
29%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Java and Princetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$9kLowest 27% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$98,438±$21kHighest 14% above NY |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
| Princetown and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,200±$16kLowest 61% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$315,700±$39kHighest 26% below NY |
$258,600±$51k 39% below NY |
| Princetown and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$137Lowest 55% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,354±$91 16% below NY |
$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY |
| Benton and Princetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,425 48% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$5,750Highest 13% below NY |
$3,391Lowest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.6%±58.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Princetown and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.2% NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.7% NY: 54.3% |
75.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 51% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
23 min 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Benton and Milo 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 | #84 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | PENN YAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | PENN YAN ACADEMY | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.