What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most people working from home (13%).

Bennington has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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	Durham	Bennington
People
Population	2,641Lowest	3,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY	46.7±5.8Lowest 17% above NY
	Durham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Bennington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±7Highest NY: 17.9%	22.4%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Durham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	26%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Bennington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,471±$15kLowest 5% below NY	$89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY
	Bennington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY	$244,400±$24kLowest 42% below NY
	Durham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY	$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY
	Durham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,728Lowest 43% below NY	$4,591Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1%
	Bennington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%	8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	33 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Durham and Bennington 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	#100 of 484 in NY	—
School district	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9	—
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.