Compare towns
Reading vs Braintree vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Reading | Braintree | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,026 |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
| Braintree and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 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+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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 | $85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Reading and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% 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 | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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 | 8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| 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.