Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading vs Underhill 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Underhill | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
699Lowest |
3,141Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
47±5.9 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%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Brookfield 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%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% |
3.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Underhill 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Underhill 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±$72k 19% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
| Underhill and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Plainfield and Reading 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above 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% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 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 |
33 min 39% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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.