Compare towns
Benson vs Randolph vs Readsboro
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 people working from home (18.6%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Randolph | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
4,843Highest |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
50.7±3.9 18% above VT |
| Benson and Readsboro 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% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Randolph 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% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below VT |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$215,500±$52kLowest 32% below VT |
| Randolph and Benson 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 |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT |
| Randolph and Benson 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 |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$3,480Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
17.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph 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% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Randolph 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Readsboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.