Compare towns

Readsboro vs Randolph vs Benson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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.

MeasureReadsboroRandolphBenson
People
Population
807
4,843Highest
784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-7.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.7±3.9
18% above VT
40.4±7.4Lowest
6% below VT
51.9±9.4Highest
20% above VT
Benson and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
6.9%±2.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
26.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
40.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
7%±5.8
VT: 7%
Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,268±$12kLowest
32% below VT
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
$78,625±$8kHighest
3% below VT
Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$215,500±$52kLowest
32% below VT
$278,700±$38kHighest
12% below VT
$242,000±$26k
24% below VT
Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$724±$32Lowest
41% below VT
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
$1,113±$170
10% below VT
Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,480Lowest
31% below VT
$4,698Highest
7% below VT
$4,125
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.4%±24.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
53.4%±35.2
VT: 48.4%
Randolph and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
7.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.4%
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
35% above VT
21 minLowest
12% below VT
32 minHighest
35% above VT
Work from home
7.8%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±5.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #55 of 70 in VT —
School district Readsboro School District Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town None in town Randolph Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.4
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.