What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

Benson has the most expensive homes ($230k 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	Worcester	Benson
People
Population	2,149Highest	271Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY	50.7±7.7Highest 27% above NY
	Benson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	14.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Worcester and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	34.3%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±5.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Worcester and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,886±$23kHighest 19% below NY	$69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY
	Worcester and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY	$230,100±$15kHighest 46% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$736±$327 55% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,602Highest 60% below NY	$2,528Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Worcester and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.7%Highest NY: 14%	5.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1966Highest 7 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 19% below NY	26 minLowest 20% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±4.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.6%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Benson and Worcester 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.