Compare towns

Plainfield vs Richford 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 the most people working from home (16.4%).
Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldRichfordSheldon
People
Population
1,314Lowest
2,467Highest
2,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+1.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
39±3.6Lowest
10% 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%
21.8%±4
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
23.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Richford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
20.8%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
6.4%±3.6Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Richford 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±$31k
15% below VT
$56,853±$13kLowest
30% below VT
$78,533±$25kHighest
3% 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
$318,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$176,600±$16kLowest
44% 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
$1,160±$66
6% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
Sheldon and Richford 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
$3,300Lowest
35% below VT
$3,578
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
55.1%±15.9
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Richford 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%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
70.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 minHighest
18% above VT
25 min
7% above VT
Work from home
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.8%±3.9Lowest
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 — Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town — Richford Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.