Compare towns
Worcester vs 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
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Worcester | Reading | Stowe | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
699Lowest |
5,285Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
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 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 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+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$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 | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,100±$331 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 | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
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 | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.