Compare towns
Cavendish vs Lincoln vs Plainfield vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Lincoln has the highest household income ($97k).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Cavendish | Lincoln | Plainfield | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
1,394 |
1,314 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Lincoln and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Lincoln and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lincoln Town School District | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.