Compare towns
Wayne vs Java vs Benton vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($120k 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 | Wayne | Java | Benton | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033 |
2,049 |
2,948Highest |
695Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
45.9±5.8 15% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±3.5 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+ | 40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
14.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1 NY: 7% |
5.3%±6.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Bradford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,938±$17k 6% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
$60,625±$13kLowest 29% below NY |
| Java and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51k 39% below NY |
$120,000±$42kLowest 72% 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 | $1,031±$304 36% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY |
$770±$22Lowest 52% 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 | $3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,391 48% below NY |
$2,838Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
44.4%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Bradford and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
10.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
95.2% NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
30 minHighest 8% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±7.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Benton and Bradford 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.