Compare towns
Benson vs Readsboro vs Vershire
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%).
Readsboro has the most renters (23.6% rent).
Vershire has the most kids (19.1% 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 | Readsboro | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
807 |
842Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.7±3.9 18% above VT |
45.7±9.3Lowest 6% 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% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Vershire 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% |
20.6%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Vershire 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 |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below VT |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$215,500±$52k 32% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Benson and Readsboro 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 |
$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT |
$1,117±$80Highest 9% below VT |
| Vershire 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 |
$3,480Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,640Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
17.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 35% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Vershire 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 | Readsboro School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.