Compare towns
Readsboro vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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.
| Measure | Readsboro | Waterville | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 807Highest |
680Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.9 18% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 35% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Readsboro School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.