Compare towns
Wayne vs Java vs Benton vs Windham
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 most affordable homes ($224k median).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Windham has the most people working from home (17.1%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033Lowest |
2,049 |
2,948Highest |
1,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+0.3% 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 |
56.5±5.1 42% above NY |
| Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
31.4%±5.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
43.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1 NY: 7% |
6.6%±5Highest NY: 7% |
| Windham 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±$13kLowest 13% below NY |
$76,477±$17k 11% 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±$150k 37% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51k 39% below NY |
$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY |
| Windham and Wayne 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 |
$850±$295Lowest 48% 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 |
$3,363Lowest 49% 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% |
68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Windham 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% |
7.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
95.2% NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89% 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 |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Windham and Benton 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.