What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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	Middlesex
People
Population	3,220Highest	1,407Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Lowest 17% above NY	55.3±6Highest 39% above NY
	Middlesex 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%	18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bennington and Middlesex 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%	24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Middlesex 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Bennington and Middlesex 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	$75,750±$21kLowest 12% below NY
	Bennington and Middlesex 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	$208,100±$62kLowest 51% below NY
	Bennington and Middlesex 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	$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY
	Middlesex 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	$3,459Lowest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1%	29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1%
	Middlesex and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NY: 14%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	25 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Middlesex and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN)
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.