Compare towns
Dover vs Newfane vs Plainfield vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Dover | Newfane | Plainfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,456 |
1,314Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.