Compare towns
North Bennington vs Reading vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
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 | North Bennington | Reading | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,336Highest |
699Lowest |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
| Reading and Ludlow 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% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below 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±$40k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$304,000±$32kLowest 4% below 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±$331 11% below VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% 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 | $5,590 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,237Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Lowest 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 | 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.