Compare towns
Windsor vs Reading vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Windsor | Reading | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,554Highest |
699Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% 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 | 19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest 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 | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above 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 | $1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% 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 | $5,209 3% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 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 | 7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 3% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| 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 |
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.