Compare towns
Newport vs Java vs Bennington vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newport has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
Java has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Bennington has the most people working from home (10.5%).
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 | Newport | Java | Bennington | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,740 |
2,049 |
3,220Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-14.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.6±6.9Highest 25% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
49.2±7 24% above NY |
| Newport and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±5.1 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
18%±5.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
26.5%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Colchester and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
26%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Newport and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,727±$12k 7% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$67,222±$15kLowest 22% below NY |
| Java and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,300±$12kLowest 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY |
$240,500±$80k 43% below NY |
| Bennington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $768±$19Lowest 53% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$942±$344 42% below NY |
$1,155±$332Highest 29% below NY |
| Colchester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,151 52% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,591Highest 30% below NY |
$1,915Lowest 71% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±30.9 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
54.1%±27.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Colchester and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
88% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | WEST CANADA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | WEST CANADA VALLEY JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.