Compare towns
Sharon vs Plainfield vs Cavendish vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
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 | Sharon | Plainfield | Cavendish | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,314 |
1,242Lowest |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Royalton 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 | — | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 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.