Compare towns
West Windsor vs Benson vs Reading vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | West Windsor | Benson | Reading | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171 |
784 |
699Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| West Windsor and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860 16% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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 | 3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.