Compare towns
Windham vs Reading vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Windham | Reading | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
699 |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% 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 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest 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+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 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 | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 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 | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 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 | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest 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 | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.