Compare towns
Bennington vs Altona vs Seneca
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most expensive homes ($244k median).
Altona has the most affordable homes ($151k median).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
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 | Bennington | Altona | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,220Highest |
2,490Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY |
40±5Lowest about the NY average |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Bennington and Seneca 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% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Bennington and Seneca 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% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Seneca 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% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Bennington and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below NY |
$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY |
| Seneca and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY |
$151,400±$26kLowest 64% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$344Lowest 42% below NY |
$997±$182 38% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Altona 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 |
$2,810 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Lowest 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% NY: 14% |
19.2%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 16% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
2.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
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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.