Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Fairlee vs Brookfield
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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Fairlee | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
2,267Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brookfield 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Brookfield 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% 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 | $4,806 5% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.