What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the most expensive homes ($230k median).

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k 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	Benson	Plainfield
People
Population	271Lowest	1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.8% NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.7±7.7Highest 27% above NY	34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY
Kids under 18	14.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.3%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%	14.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±5.6Lowest NY: 7%	14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7%
	Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY	$70,673±$6kHighest 18% below NY
	Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,100±$15kHighest 46% below NY	$155,100±$17kLowest 63% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$750±$207 54% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,528Lowest 62% below NY	$2,667Highest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.6%±43.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Plainfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest NY: 14%	7.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 20% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	9.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Plainfield and Benson 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.