Compare towns
Readsboro vs Windham vs Worcester 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).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 807 |
594Lowest |
831Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.9 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest 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 | $55,268±$12kLowest 32% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $724±$32Lowest 41% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Worcester 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Readsboro School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.