Compare towns

Bennington vs Benton vs West Monroe

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 homeowners (90.7%).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
West Monroe has the most affordable homes ($185k 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.

MeasureBenningtonBentonWest Monroe
People
Population
3,220
2,948Lowest
4,060Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
NY: +4.2%
+5.3%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-3.9%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
46.7±5.8Highest
17% above NY
40.6±8.4Lowest
about the NY average
46.3±4.6
16% above NY
Bennington and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±4.9
NY: 20.5%
30.1%±5.2Highest
NY: 20.5%
16%±3.9Lowest
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%±4.5
NY: 17.9%
24.8%±4.9Highest
NY: 17.9%
17.8%±3.8Lowest
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%
NY: 40.2%
27.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
25.9%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7Highest
NY: 7%
1.1%±1Lowest
NY: 7%
2.1%±1
NY: 7%
Bennington and West Monroe 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
$74,767±$13kLowest
13% below NY
$90,558±$11kHighest
5% above NY
West Monroe 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±$24k
42% below NY
$258,600±$51kHighest
39% below NY
$185,100±$19kLowest
56% 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
$1,051±$342
35% below NY
Benton and West Monroe 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
$4,333
34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.4%±29
NY: 52.1%
14.5%±10.3Lowest
NY: 52.1%
38.1%±13.1Highest
NY: 52.1%
West Monroe 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%
19.4%Highest
NY: 14%
5.9%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
NY: 54.3%
75.9%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
88.8%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
10 yrs newer than NY
1964Lowest
5 yrs newer than NY
1984Highest
25 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
about the NY average
23 minLowest
30% below NY
26 min
22% below NY
Work from home
10.5%±4.9
NY: 14.9%
11.8%±5.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
8.1%±3.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Benton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.