Compare towns

Plainfield vs Reading vs Newfane

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%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldReadingNewfane
People
Population
1,314
699Lowest
1,456Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Lowest
12% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
54.4±3.9Highest
26% above VT
Newfane 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%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
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+
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Newfane 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Reading and Newfane 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
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% 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
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$284,200±$49kLowest
10% 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
$1,266±$238Highest
about the VT average
Newfane and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,806Lowest
5% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$5,174
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%
51.9%±79.7Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
87.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1971Highest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
33 minHighest
41% above VT
27 min
13% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — None 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.