Compare towns
Providence vs Benton vs Seneca
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Benton has the most kids (30.1% under 18).
Seneca has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
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 | Providence | Benton | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
2,948Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±5.2Highest 23% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Providence and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 18%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,574±$16kHighest 8% above NY |
$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Providence and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $270,500±$25kHighest 36% below NY |
$258,600±$51k 39% below NY |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
| Providence and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,449±$383Lowest 11% below NY |
$1,541±$628 5% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,275 50% below NY |
$3,391Highest 48% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±50.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Providence and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 34 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest about the NY average |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.7%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Benton and Seneca 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.