What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the most people working from home (9.6%).

Wells has the oldest population (median age 59.8).

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	Wells
People
Population	271Lowest	671Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.3% NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY	59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY
	Wells 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%	14.8%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wells 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%	28.9%±7.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±5.6Lowest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Wells 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	$74,286±$31kHighest 14% below NY
	Wells 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	$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY
	Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,528Lowest 62% below NY	$2,588Highest 61% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	30%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wells and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest NY: 14%	4.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 20% below NY	43 minHighest 32% above NY
Work from home	9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Benson and Wells 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.