Compare towns
Grafton vs Plainfield vs Reading vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Grafton | Plainfield | Reading | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
1,314Highest |
699 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
| Grafton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Reading and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
| Reading and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
| Grafton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 4% below VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest 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 | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 41% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | — | 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.