Compare towns
Old Bennington vs Reading vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Old Bennington | Reading | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 182Lowest |
699 |
9,245Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±21.3 4% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.5±3Lowest 3% above VT |
| Reading and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Old Bennington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Old 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+ | 84.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
34.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±7.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$53kHighest 108% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$54,257±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $445,500±$105kHighest 41% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$191,700±$28kLowest 39% below VT |
| Old Bennington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$1kLowest 14% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,115±$57Highest 10% below VT |
| Bennington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,690Highest 72% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,331Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1954 22 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 46.7%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| 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.