Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Plainfield | Reading | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
699 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% 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 | 16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest 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+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest 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 | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.