Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dover vs Strafford
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 youngest population (median age 48.1).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Dover | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Dover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Strafford School District |
| 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.