What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).

Benson has the youngest population (median age 50.7).

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	Wayne	Benson
People
Population	1,033Highest	271Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	14.4%±9.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Benson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	34.3%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Wayne and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	1.1%±5.6Highest NY: 7%
	Benson 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	$69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY
	Wayne and Benson 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	$230,100±$15kLowest 46% below NY
	Wayne and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,031±$304 36% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,967Highest 40% below NY	$2,528Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest NY: 14%	5.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	26 minLowest 20% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Benson 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.