Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Fair Haven 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 most expensive homes ($318k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Sheldon | Fair Haven | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,267 |
2,724Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Fair Haven 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Sheldon 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±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 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±$103 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.