Compare towns
Chester vs Plainfield vs Reading vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Chester | Plainfield | Reading | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,314 |
699 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 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+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above 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 | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— |
| Plainfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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 | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.