What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

West Monroe has the most affordable homes ($185k median).

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	West Monroe
People
Population	3,220Lowest	4,060Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY	46.3±4.6Lowest 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%	16%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bennington and West Monroe 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%	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bennington and West Monroe 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%	25.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Bennington and West Monroe 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	$90,558±$11kHighest 5% above NY
	West Monroe 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	$185,100±$19kLowest 56% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY	$1,051±$342Highest 35% below NY
	West Monroe 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	$4,333Lowest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29Lowest 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%	5.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	26 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%	8.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and West Monroe 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.