What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Monroe has the most affordable homes ($185k median).

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	West Monroe	Bennington
People
Population	4,060Highest	3,220Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±4.6Lowest 16% above NY	46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY
	Bennington and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Bennington and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.4%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Bennington and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Bennington and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,558±$11kHighest 5% above NY	$89,050±$10kLowest 4% above NY
	West Monroe and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,100±$19kLowest 56% below NY	$244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,051±$342Highest 35% below NY	$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY
	West Monroe and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,333Lowest 34% below NY	$4,591Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±13.1Highest NY: 52.1%	27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1%
	West Monroe and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest NY: 14%	8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 22% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	8.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Bennington and West Monroe 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.