Compare towns
Montgomery vs Plainfield vs Sharon vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Montgomery | Plainfield | Sharon | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
1,314 |
1,577Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Sharon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209 30% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Sharon School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.