Compare towns
Sharon vs Plainfield vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Plainfield 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Sharon 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Sharon and Plainfield 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±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Sharon and Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% 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 |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Dover 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Sharon School District | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.