Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 48.1).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Berlin | Plainfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,314 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.