What stands out worked out from the figures below

Potter has the most affordable homes ($130k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Potter	Benton
People
Population	1,871Lowest	2,948Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY	40.6±8.4Highest about the NY average
	Benton and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Benton and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Potter and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,344±$19kLowest 22% below NY	$74,767±$13kHighest 13% below NY
	Benton and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$130,300±$23kLowest 69% below NY	$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,005±$136Lowest 38% below NY	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY
	Benton and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,796Lowest 58% below NY	$3,391Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Potter and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Lowest NY: 14%	19.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 25% below NY	23 minLowest 30% below NY
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Potter and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.