What stands out worked out from the figures below

Russia has the youngest population (median age 43.9).

Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

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	Russia	Bennington
People
Population	2,272Lowest	3,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.9±2.9Lowest 10% above NY	46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY
	Bennington and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Russia and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.4%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Bennington and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	26%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Russia and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,116±$17kLowest about the NY average	$89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY
	Bennington and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$232,200±$44kLowest 45% below NY	$244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY
	Bennington and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$325Lowest 45% below NY	$942±$344Highest 42% below NY
	Bennington and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,939Lowest 55% below NY	$4,591Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.1%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1%	27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Russia and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest NY: 14%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1969Highest 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	6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6	—
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.