What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).

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	Windham
People
Population	3,220Highest	1,432Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.7±5.8Lowest 17% above NY	56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY
	Windham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	22.4%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.4%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Windham 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%
	Windham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY	$76,477±$17kLowest 11% below NY
	Bennington and Windham 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	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY
	Windham and Bennington 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	$850±$295Lowest 48% below NY
	Bennington and Windham 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	$3,363Lowest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1%	68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Windham 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%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	89%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Windham 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.