Compare towns
Dummerston vs Guilford 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
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Guilford has the most affordable homes ($313k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Dummerston | Guilford | Plainfield | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,461Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Guilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Dummerston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,283±$273 4% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Dummerston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,827 16% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.