Compare towns
Benson vs Pittsfield vs Reading
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).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Pittsfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
391Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
| Pittsfield 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 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest 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% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Reading 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 |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above 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 |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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 |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Benson and Reading 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 |
$5,181 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.