What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Darien has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Darien
People
Population	3,220Highest	2,988Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Lowest 17% above NY	50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY
	Darien and Bennington 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%±5.9Lowest 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%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%	21.8%±6.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bennington and Darien 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%	17%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Darien and Bennington 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	$88,423±$15kLowest 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	$211,400±$21kLowest 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±$344 42% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,591Lowest 30% below NY	$4,910Highest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Bennington and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest NY: 14%	8.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	94.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY	1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%	5.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and Darien 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.