Compare towns
Benson vs Reading vs Andover 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).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Reading | Andover | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
699 |
616Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Andover 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Andover 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.