What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has the most homeowners (94.7%).

Benton has the most people working from home (11.8%).

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	Providence	Benton
People
Population	1,971Lowest	2,948Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±5.2Highest 23% above NY	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average
	Providence and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,574±$16kHighest 8% above NY	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY
	Providence and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$270,500±$25kHighest 36% below NY	$258,600±$51kLowest 39% below NY
	Providence and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,449±$383Lowest 11% below NY	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY
	Benton and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,275Lowest 50% below NY	$3,391Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.9%±50.8Highest NY: 52.1%	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Providence and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Lowest NY: 14%	19.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 34 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest about the NY average	23 minLowest 30% below NY
Work from home	5.7%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Providence 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.