Compare towns
Reading vs Benson vs West Windsor vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Reading | Benson | West Windsor | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
784 |
1,171Highest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54±5.9 25% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Benson and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% 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 | $5,754 14% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.