What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

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	Wayne
People
Population	2,948Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
Kids under 18	30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	24.8%±4.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Benton and Wayne 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±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne 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±$51kLowest 39% below NY	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne 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	$1,031±$304Lowest 36% below NY
	Benton and Wayne 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	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne 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%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Wayne 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.