The Town FilesBenton, New York
Town in Yates County · population 2,985 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $258,600
- Household income
- $74,767
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 40.6
Benton is a town of 2,985 people in Yates County, New York. The median home is worth $258,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 70% of New York towns.
How Benton ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Benton is worth $258,600, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $74,767, which is more affordable than 35% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,541 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,541 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $74,767 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.7% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.7% | 91.1% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 30.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 3, 2018 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 21, 2013.
Severe weather in Yates County since 1996
Yates County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Yates County
Yates County had 7,028 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,380 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Towns near Benton
- Penn Yan, NY4.2 mi · 5,056 people · home $152,700
- Seneca, NY7.8 mi · 2,644 people · home $192,700
- Milo, NY8.0 mi · 6,803 people · home $165,200
- Geneva, NY8.0 mi · 3,473 people · home $232,600
- Gorham, NY9.2 mi · 4,106 people · home $263,300
- Jerusalem, NY9.3 mi · 4,405 people · home $320,900
- Geneva, NY10.4 mi · 12,812 people · home $165,500
- Romulus, NY11.1 mi · 3,203 people · home $178,800
Benton questions
Is Benton, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 64% of New York towns and quieter than 57%. 24.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $258,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,767, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,541 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.2 inches of precipitation a year and 56.3 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 3, 2018. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)