What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).

Benton has the most kids (30.1% 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	Mendon	Benton
People
Population	1,113Lowest	2,948Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.	40.6±8.4Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Mendon and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	30.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mendon and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.	$74,767±$13kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Mendon and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.	$258,600±$51kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,541±$628Highest 9% above U.S.
	Benton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.	$3,391Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	14.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon 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

U.S. 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.