What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most homeowners (90.7%).

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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	Benton
People
Population	3,220Highest	2,948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average
	Bennington and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Benton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Bennington and Benton 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	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY
	Bennington and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$244,400±$24kLowest 42% below NY	$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY
	Benton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY
	Benton 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	$3,391Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1%	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Bennington and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest NY: 14%	19.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	23 minLowest 30% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Bennington 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

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.