What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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	Jay
People
Population	3,220Highest	2,354Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Lowest 17% above NY	48.8±4.6Highest 23% above NY
	Jay 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%	16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bennington and Jay 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%	25.3%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Jay 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%	31.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Bennington and Jay 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	$72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY
	Bennington and Jay 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	$196,900±$22kLowest 54% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY	$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY
	Jay 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	$3,741Lowest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29 NY: 52.1%	27.4%±21.1 NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	8%Highest NY: 14%	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	88.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%	8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.