Compare towns
Guilford vs Sheldon vs Sharon vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Guilford | Sheldon | Sharon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
2,267 |
1,577 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% 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 | 17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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+ | 44.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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 | $75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Sharon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273 4% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Sharon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827 16% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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 | 10.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Guilford and Plainfield 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Sharon School District | — |
| 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.