Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Ripton | Plainfield | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Plainfield School District | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.