Compare towns
Benson vs Ira vs Reading vs Stockbridge
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).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Ira | Reading | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
381Lowest |
699 |
791Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Reading 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
| Reading and Benson 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
| Reading and Stockbridge 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,140±$126Highest 8% below VT |
| Stockbridge 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,488 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.