Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading vs Stowe vs Worcester
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Stowe | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
699Lowest |
5,285Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
47±2.7 9% 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Stowe 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Stowe 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±$34k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.