What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most people working from home (10.5%).

Altona has the most affordable homes ($151k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bennington	Altona
People
Population	3,220Highest	2,490Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY	40±5Lowest about the NY average
	Bennington and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bennington and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%	18.6%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bennington and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Highest NY: 40.2%	6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Bennington and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY	$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY	$151,400±$26kLowest 64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY	$997±$182Highest 38% below NY
	Altona and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,591Highest 30% below NY	$1,687Lowest 74% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1%	69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Altona and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest NY: 14%	19.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	27 minLowest 16% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%	2.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.