Compare towns
Milo vs Wayne 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
Milo has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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.
| Measure | Milo | Wayne | Java | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,823Highest |
1,033Lowest |
2,049 |
2,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.2 7% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±1 NY: 7% |
| Java and Milo 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 |
$90,938±$17k 6% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
| Java and Wayne 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 |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51k 39% below NY |
| Wayne 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 |
$1,031±$304 36% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY |
| Benton and Wayne 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 |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,391Lowest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Wayne 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% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
95.2% NY: 54.3% |
75.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 51% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 min 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest 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.