What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).

Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Sheffield
People
Population	1,314Highest	190Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT	32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4%	13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Plainfield and Sheffield 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%	16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3 VT: 7%	2.1%±5.8 VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT	$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT
	Plainfield and Sheffield 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	$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT	$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average
	Sheffield 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	$1,714Lowest 66% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Sheffield 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%	8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	21 minLowest 12% below VT
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%	8.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.