What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).

Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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	Shaftsbury	Plainfield
People
Population	3,607Highest	1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43±6.6Lowest about the VT average	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT
	Plainfield and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9%	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Shaftsbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%	21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Shaftsbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	48.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.1 VT: 7%	2.1%±1.3 VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT	$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT
	Shaftsbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$24kLowest 16% below VT	$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average
	Plainfield and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT	$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT
	Plainfield and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,015Lowest 20% below VT	$4,806Highest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±36Lowest VT: 48.4%	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield and Shaftsbury 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	#62 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.