What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).

Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sheffield	Plainfield
People
Population	190Lowest	1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.6% VT: +2.8%
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT
Kids under 18	34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9%	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	48.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±5.8 VT: 7%	2.1%±1.3 VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT	$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT
	Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT	$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average	$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT
	Sheffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,714Lowest 66% below VT	$4,806Highest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 12% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	8.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Plainfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.