Compare towns
Baltimore vs Benson vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltimore has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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.
| Measure | Baltimore | Benson | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 361Lowest |
784Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
| Benson and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Baltimore and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,400±$27kLowest 31% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Benson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329 14% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.