Compare towns
Castleton vs Guilford vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Guilford has the most expensive homes ($313k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Castleton | Guilford | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,461 |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.7±5.2Highest 8% above VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
| Guilford and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Halifax 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% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$75,243±$6kHighest 7% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Guilford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$312,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
| Guilford and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
| Guilford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,827Highest 16% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Guilford 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None 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.