Compare towns
Bainbridge vs Benson vs Castleton vs Bergen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bainbridge has the most affordable homes ($151k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Bergen has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Bainbridge | Benson | Castleton | Bergen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,017 |
784Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,081 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.6 24% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±4.3 23% above U.S. |
| Benson and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bainbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,391±$8kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$75,327±$8k 7% below U.S. |
| Benson and Bergen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,500±$32kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$170,000±$21k 49% below U.S. |
| Benson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$237Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$781±$91 45% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,712 19% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,380Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bergen and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #332 of 484 in NY | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #333 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | BYRON-BERGEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town | BYRON-BERGEN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | — | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.