Compare towns
Benson vs Northfield vs Reading vs Orwell
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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Northfield | Reading | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
5,920Highest |
699Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.5±7 10% 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Reading and Orwell 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.