Compare towns
Benson vs Reading vs Shoreham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Shoreham has the shortest commute (26 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 | Reading | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
699Lowest |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Benson and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Shoreham 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% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Reading and Shoreham 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 |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Benson 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest 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% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Benson 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
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.