Compare towns
Plainfield vs Whitingham vs Sheldon vs Groton
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Whitingham | Sheldon | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
1,368 |
2,267Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Whitingham 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Groton 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% 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 |
$673±$150 45% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.