Compare towns
Benson vs Andover vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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.
| Measure | Benson | Andover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
616Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Benson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest 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 | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Andover and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading 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.