Compare towns
Brookline vs Plainfield vs Putney vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Brookline | Plainfield | Putney | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,314 |
2,622Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$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 | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 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 | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Brookline 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 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.