Compare towns
Westmore vs Reading vs Newark vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmore has the highest household income ($87k).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Newark has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Westmore | Reading | Newark | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 465Lowest |
699 |
727 |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Westmore and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137k 4% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Reading and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820Lowest 15% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357 6% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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 | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer 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 | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.