What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has the oldest population (median age 62.1).

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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	Benton	Ryegate
People
Population	386Lowest	1,059Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	62.1±1.9Highest 60% above U.S.	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	6.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	37.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ryegate and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,895±$4kHighest 16% below U.S.	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Benton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$46kHighest 13% below U.S.	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.
	Benton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$908±$236 36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,922Lowest 6% below U.S.	$3,472Highest 11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±29.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	14.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	2.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ryegate and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.