Compare towns
Bennington vs Russia vs Sheldon
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%).
Russia has the youngest population (median age 43.9).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Russia | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,220Highest |
2,272 |
2,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
43.9±2.9Lowest 10% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Russia and Bennington 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% |
20.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% NY: 40.2% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
| Bennington and Russia 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 |
$232,200±$44k 45% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Bennington and Russia 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 |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Bennington and Russia 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 |
$2,939Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1959Lowest same as NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest about the NY average |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.