What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

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	Wayne
People
Population	3,220Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Lowest 17% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
Kids under 18	20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	22.4%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Bennington and Wayne 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	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne 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±$24kLowest 42% below NY	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne and Bennington 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	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY
	Wayne 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	$3,967Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne 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%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1971Highest 12 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%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and Wayne 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.