Compare towns
Reading vs Benson vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Worcester has the shortest commute (29 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
784 |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Benson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Benson 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% 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 | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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 | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Reading 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.