Compare towns
Reading vs Stowe 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 the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Stowe | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
5,285Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Stowe and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Stowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Reading 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 | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.