What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

Benton has the oldest population (median age 62.1).

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	Ryegate	Benton
People
Population	1,059Highest	386Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.	62.1±1.9Highest 60% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	6.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	37.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	18.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ryegate and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.	$67,895±$4kHighest 16% below U.S.
	Benton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.	$288,300±$46kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Benton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$236 36% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,472Highest 11% above U.S.	$2,922Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±29.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	8.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	2.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ryegate 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.