Compare towns
Wales vs Java vs Bennington 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
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Bennington has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Wales | Java | Bennington | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,015 |
2,049Lowest |
3,220Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Bennington and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
26%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Java and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,590±$19kLowest 3% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,800±$33kHighest 42% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$244,400±$24k 42% below NY |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
| Wales and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$503 41% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$942±$344 42% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,782Highest 27% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,591 30% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Bennington and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Bennington 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 | #321 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.