What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most expensive homes ($244k median).

Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).

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	Seneca
People
Population	3,220Highest	2,622Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY	44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY
	Bennington and Seneca 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%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bennington and Seneca 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%	22.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bennington and Seneca 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%	22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Bennington and Seneca 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	$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY
	Seneca 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	$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY	$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY
	Seneca 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	$2,810Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1%	7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Bennington and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY	1945Lowest 14 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%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seneca and Bennington 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.