Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Westfield
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%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% 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 | Plainfield | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,314 |
536Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44±19.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
27.1%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westfield and Dover 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
27.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Westfield and Dover 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$72,500±$30kHighest 11% below VT |
| Westfield 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$301,400±$47kLowest 5% 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$863±$187 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Westfield 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,388Lowest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.