What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gorham has the oldest population (median age 48.7).

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	Gorham
People
Population	2,948Lowest	4,093Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average	48.7±8.8Highest 22% above NY
	Gorham 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%	19.9%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	24.8%±4.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Gorham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Gorham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,767±$13kHighest 13% below NY	$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY
	Benton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,600±$51kLowest 39% below NY	$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY
	Gorham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY	$1,165±$208Lowest 28% below NY
	Benton and Gorham 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	$3,497Highest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	19.4%Highest NY: 14%	9.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	79.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY	1959Lowest same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 30% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Gorham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#246 of 484 in NY
School district	—	GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN)
High school in town	—	MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.2
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.