Compare towns
Benson vs Northfield vs Reading vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
5,920Highest |
699 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 27% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.