What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Milo has the most affordable homes ($165k median).

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	Milo
People
Population	2,948Lowest	6,823Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average	42.7±5.2Highest 7% above NY
	Milo 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%	20.9%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	24.8%±4.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	27.8%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Milo 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%	22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	1.4%±0.8Highest NY: 7%
	Milo 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	$62,500±$9kLowest 27% below NY
	Benton and Milo 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	$165,200±$16kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY	$733±$137Lowest 55% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,391Lowest 48% below NY	$3,425Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	34.6%±13.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Milo and Benton 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%	12.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	65.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 30% below NY	16 minLowest 51% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%	11.3%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Milo 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	—	#84 of 484 in NY
School district	—	PENN YAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	PENN YAN ACADEMY
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
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.