What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Bennington has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Bennington	Reading
People
Population	1,336Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.9±10Lowest about the VT average	51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT
	Reading and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%	28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	North Bennington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	46%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT
	Reading and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$313,000±$40kLowest about the VT average	$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT
	Reading and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT	$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT
	North Bennington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,590Lowest 11% above VT	$5,754Highest 14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±26.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Reading and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT	1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 24% below VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	17.3%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Reading and North Bennington 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
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.