Compare towns
Montgomery vs Sheldon vs Plainfield vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Sheldon | Plainfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,314 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest 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+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% 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 | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Montgomery 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Sheldon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 14% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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.