Compare towns
Russia vs Java vs Benton vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the most affordable homes ($224k median).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Russia | Java | Benton | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,272 |
2,049Lowest |
2,948 |
3,933Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.9±2.9 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
46.6±4.1Highest 17% above NY |
| Deerfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±4.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
37.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
| Deerfield and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,116±$17k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY |
$101,029±$7kHighest 18% above NY |
| Deerfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,200±$44k 45% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY |
$231,300±$16k 45% below NY |
| Benton and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$325 45% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY |
$763±$122Lowest 53% below NY |
| Benton and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,939Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,391 48% below NY |
$3,990Highest 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
44.1%±32.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Deerfield and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
6.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 same as NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 min 30% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.5%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Deerfield and Benton 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 | — | — | — | #120 of 484 in NY |
| School district | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | WHITESBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.