What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Seneca has the most affordable homes ($193k 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	Seneca
People
Population	2,948Highest	2,622Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average	44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY
	Seneca 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%	19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%	22.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Seneca 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%	22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	2.2%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Seneca 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±$13kLowest 13% below NY	$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY
	Seneca 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	$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$628Lowest 5% below NY	$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY
	Seneca and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,391Highest 48% below NY	$2,810Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1%	7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Benton and Seneca 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%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%	10.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Seneca 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.