Compare towns
Plainfield vs Berkshire vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Plainfield | Berkshire | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
1,745 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Plainfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berkshire and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$244,600±$26kLowest 23% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Sheldon 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 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.