Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sharon vs Montgomery vs Worcester
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Sharon | Montgomery | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,577Highest |
1,047 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Sharon 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Montgomery 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 |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Sharon and Worcester 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Sharon and Montgomery 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 |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Sharon and Plainfield 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 |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Sharon School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.