Compare towns
Bennington vs Brasher vs Sheldon vs Darien
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 people working from home (10.5%).
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Darien has the most homeowners (94.7%).
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 | Brasher | Sheldon | Darien |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220Highest |
2,592 |
2,216Lowest |
2,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
46.6±9Lowest 17% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
| Darien and Sheldon 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% |
18.4%±6.2 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19%±5.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Bennington and Darien 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% |
23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.8%±6.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brasher 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% |
10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
17% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2 NY: 7% |
| Brasher and Sheldon 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 |
$53,911±$14kLowest 37% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$88,423±$15k about the NY average |
| Bennington and Darien 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 |
$124,300±$24kLowest 71% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$211,400±$21k 50% below NY |
| Bennington and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$344Highest 42% below NY |
$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
— |
| Bennington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,591 30% below NY |
$2,500Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$4,910Highest 25% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest NY: 14% |
22.4%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
8.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
75.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
94.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
20 minLowest 37% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
24 min 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±3.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #300 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.