Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Reading vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Fair Haven | Reading | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
699Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% 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 | 19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 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+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below 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 | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% 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 | $3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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 | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Benson 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| 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 | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.