What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Java has the shortest commute (27 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	Java
People
Population	3,220Highest	2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Bennington and Java 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%	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Java and Bennington 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%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bennington and Java 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%	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Java 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±$10kLowest 4% above NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java 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	$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY
	Bennington and Java 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	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY
	Bennington and Java 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	$3,775Lowest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	27 minLowest 17% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and Java 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.