What stands out worked out from the figures below

Varick has the youngest population (median age 33.1).

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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	Varick	Benton
People
Population	1,724Lowest	2,948Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY	40.6±8.4Highest about the NY average
	Benton and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.3%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	30.1%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Varick and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%	1.1%±1Highest NY: 7%
	Benton and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,250±$8kHighest 7% below NY	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY
	Varick and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,200±$41kHighest 37% below NY	$258,600±$51kLowest 39% below NY
	Varick and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$88Lowest 21% below NY	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY
	Benton and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,604Highest 30% below NY	$3,391Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.6%±36.7Highest NY: 52.1%	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Varick and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Lowest NY: 14%	19.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 29% below NY	23 minLowest 30% below NY
Work from home	12.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Varick 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

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.