Compare towns
Benson vs Mendon vs Reading vs Chelsea
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Mendon | Reading | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,113 |
699Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Reading 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chelsea 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Reading and Mendon 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Mendon 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.