What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sardinia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).

Bennington has the most expensive homes ($244k median).

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	Sardinia	Bennington
People
Population	2,703Lowest	3,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.5±7.5Lowest 7% above NY	46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY
	Bennington and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Sardinia and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.4%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Bennington and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Sardinia and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,583±$34kLowest about the NY average	$89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY
	Bennington and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,900±$19kLowest 48% below NY	$244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY
	Bennington and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$855±$83Lowest 47% below NY	$942±$344Highest 42% below NY
	Bennington and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,233Lowest 66% below NY	$4,591Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	4.5%±28.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1%
	Bennington and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Highest NY: 14%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 2 yrs newer than NY	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 10% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	10.2%±6.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and Sardinia 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.