Compare towns
Waterville vs Reading vs Andover vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Waterville | Reading | Andover | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
699 |
616Lowest |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% 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 | 20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 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+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest 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 | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Andover and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | 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.