Compare towns
Baltimore vs Reading vs Waterville vs Benson
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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Reading | Waterville | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361Lowest |
699 |
680 |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.