What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windham has the most people working from home (17.1%).

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	Windham
People
Population	2,948Highest	1,432Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	+0.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average	56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY
Kids under 18	30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	24.8%±4.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.4%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Windham 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%
	Windham 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	$76,477±$17kHighest 11% below NY
	Windham 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	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY
	Windham 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	$850±$295Lowest 48% below NY
	Benton and Windham 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	$3,363Lowest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	19.4%Highest NY: 14%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Windham and Benton 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.