Compare towns
Plainfield vs Reading vs West Windsor vs Windham
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 most people working from home (22.9%).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | West Windsor | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Highest |
699 |
1,171 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor 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%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| West Windsor 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 |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| West Windsor and Windham 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 |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| West Windsor 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±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,100±$217Lowest 11% 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 | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,860 16% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | — |
| 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.