Compare towns
Calais 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
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Calais | Plainfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,314 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above 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 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Lowest 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 | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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 Our Story | 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.