Compare towns
Montgomery vs Reading vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Montgomery | Reading | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047 |
699Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
| Montgomery and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 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+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% 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 | $4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.