Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Reading
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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Sheldon | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,267Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Plainfield 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.