What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Thurman has the most people working from home (19%).

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	Thurman
People
Population	271Lowest	977Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-10.2% NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY	52.7±3.8Highest 32% above NY
	Thurman and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.8%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Thurman 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%	28.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Benson and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±5.6Lowest NY: 7%	1.7%±2.5Highest NY: 7%
	Thurman 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±$13kHighest 19% below NY	$58,750±$14kLowest 32% below NY
	Benson and Thurman 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	$197,400±$43kLowest 53% below NY
	Benson and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,175±$599 34% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,528Highest 62% below NY	$2,368Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	23.1%±77.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Thurman 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%	19.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 20% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	9.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	19%±8.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Thurman 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.