Compare towns
Sheridan vs Java vs Benton vs Cato
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 highest household income ($95k).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Cato has the most affordable homes ($168k 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 | Sheridan | Java | Benton | Cato |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,529 |
2,049Lowest |
2,948Highest |
2,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.2±8.7 19% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
48.7±4Highest 22% above NY |
| Cato and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
22%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
| Cato and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,083±$13k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY |
$79,760±$11k 7% below NY |
| Java and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,900±$17k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY |
$167,600±$6kLowest 60% below NY |
| Benton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $861±$64Lowest 47% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY |
$942±$425 42% below NY |
| Benton and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,651 45% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,391 48% below NY |
$3,005Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±28.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±23.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheridan and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 same as NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 26% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
23 min 30% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Benton and Cato 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 | 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.