Compare towns
Ira 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
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Ira | Reading | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
699 |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% 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 | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% 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 | $4,146 18% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Lowest 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 | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 20% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.