Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading vs Grafton vs Brookfield
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 most affordable homes ($318k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Grafton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
699 |
666Lowest |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% 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 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Brookfield 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Reading and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% 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 | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Athens Grafton School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.