What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Barrington has the most homeowners (93.2%).

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	Barrington
People
Population	2,948Highest	1,794Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average	44.8±3.4Highest 13% above NY
	Barrington and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	27.3%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Benton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%	22.1%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	29%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Highest NY: 7%	0.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Benton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY	$90,938±$16kHighest 6% above NY
	Barrington and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY	$255,800±$32kLowest 40% below NY
	Benton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$628Lowest 5% below NY	$1,574±$667Highest about the NY average
	Barrington and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,391Lowest 48% below NY	$3,463Highest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1%	10.3%±84.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Benton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.4%Highest NY: 14%	5.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 30% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Barrington 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.