What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).

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	Windham	Bennington
People
Population	1,432Lowest	3,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY	46.7±5.8Lowest 17% above NY
	Windham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	31.4%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9%	22.4%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Windham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	26%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Windham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,477±$17kLowest 11% below NY	$89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY
	Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY	$244,400±$24kLowest 42% below NY
	Windham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$295Lowest 48% below NY	$942±$344Highest 42% below NY
	Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,363Lowest 49% below NY	$4,591Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1%	27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Windham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%	8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Windham and Bennington 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.