Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading vs Fairlee vs Marshfield
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%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Marshfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
699Lowest |
1,066 |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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±$31k 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Reading and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% 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±$331 11% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
| Marshfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Reading 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| 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.