Compare towns
Waterville vs Reading vs Windham 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 people working from home (22.9%).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
699 |
594Lowest |
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±8.2 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest 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% |
23.2%±8.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest 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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Windham 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±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
— | $1,113±$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 | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 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 |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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.