Compare towns
Benson vs Cavendish vs Reading vs Waterville
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Cavendish | Reading | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,242Highest |
699 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest 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+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 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 | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Cavendish 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±$26k 24% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,110±$93 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 | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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 | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.