Compare towns
Windham vs Sheldon vs Plainfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Windham | Sheldon | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,314 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Windham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.