Compare towns
Bennington vs Seneca vs West Monroe
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 expensive homes ($244k median).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
West Monroe has the shortest commute (26 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.
| Measure | Bennington | Seneca | West Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,220 |
2,622Lowest |
4,060Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY |
44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY |
46.3±4.6 16% above NY |
| Bennington and West Monroe 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%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
16%±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%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest 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% |
25.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1Lowest 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 |
$90,558±$11k 5% above NY |
| Seneca and West Monroe 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±$9k 55% below NY |
$185,100±$19kLowest 56% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$344Lowest 42% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$1,051±$342 35% below NY |
| Seneca and West Monroe 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 |
$4,333 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.1%±13.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| West Monroe 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% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
5.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 minLowest 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±3.1Lowest 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 | 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.