What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the youngest population (median age 50.7).

Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).

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	Wayne
People
Population	271Lowest	1,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.1% NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
Kids under 18	14.4%±9.3Highest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Benson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.3%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wayne and Benson 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%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±5.6Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Benson and Wayne 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	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne 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±$15kLowest 46% below NY	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,031±$304 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,528Lowest 62% below NY	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne 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%	6.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 20% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Benson 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.