Compare towns
Sheldon vs Dover vs Plainfield vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Sheldon | Dover | Plainfield | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,466 |
1,314Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$895±$691 27% 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 | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 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 | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.