Compare towns
Plainfield vs Rochester vs Sheldon vs Montgomery
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%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
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 | Rochester | Sheldon | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,389 |
2,267Highest |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
| Rochester and Montgomery 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 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+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Montgomery 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 |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Sheldon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% 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 | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest 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 | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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 | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.