What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brutus has the most affordable homes ($155k median).

Bennington has the most expensive homes ($244k 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	Brutus	Bennington
People
Population	4,269Highest	3,220Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.6±3.5Lowest 10% above NY	46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY
	Bennington and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Bennington and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.4%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Bennington and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	26%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2 NY: 7%	2.5%±1.7 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,031±$10kLowest 10% below NY	$89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY
	Bennington and Brutus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$154,900±$14kLowest 63% below NY	$244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,114±$122Highest 31% below NY	$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY
	Brutus and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,294Lowest 35% below NY	$4,591Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±25.8Highest NY: 52.1%	27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Brutus and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.2%Highest NY: 14%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	8.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and Brutus 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	#313 of 484 in NY	—
School district	WEEDSPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	WEEDSPORT JUNIOR-SENIOR 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.