What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

Bennington has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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	Wayne	Bennington
People
Population	1,033Lowest	3,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	46.7±5.8Lowest 17% above NY
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	22.4%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	26%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Bennington and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY	$89,050±$10kLowest 4% above NY
	Wayne and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY	$244,400±$24kLowest 42% below NY
	Wayne and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY	$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY
	Wayne and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,967Lowest 40% below NY	$4,591Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%	8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and Wayne 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.