Compare towns
Potter vs Wayne 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
Potter has the most affordable homes ($130k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Potter | Wayne | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,871 |
1,033Lowest |
2,948Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
40.6±8.4 about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
1.1%±1 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 |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
| Wayne and Benton 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 |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% 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 | $1,005±$136Lowest 38% below NY |
$1,031±$304 36% 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 | $2,796Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,391 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Potter and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 25% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4 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 | 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.