Compare towns
Readsboro vs Underhill 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).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Readsboro | Underhill | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 807 |
3,141Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.9 18% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Readsboro 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% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Underhill 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 |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Underhill and Benson 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $724±$32Lowest 41% below VT |
— | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,480Lowest 31% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Benson 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Readsboro School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.