Compare towns
Wheelock vs Plainfield vs Reading vs Danville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Reading has the highest household income ($85k).
Danville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Wheelock | Plainfield | Reading | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
1,314 |
699Lowest |
2,360Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+6.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.1±6Highest 23% above VT |
| Danville and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Danville and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.7%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$70,946±$7k 13% below VT |
| Reading and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$275,800±$43k 13% below 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±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 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 | $2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,358 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
9.5%±11.4 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 | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±9.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Wheelock 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 | — |
| High school 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.