Compare towns
Castleton vs Guilford vs Plainfield vs Sharon
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Guilford has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,461 |
1,314Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Guilford 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%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford 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% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Guilford 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±$39k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,283±$273 4% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Guilford 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 |
$5,827 16% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Guilford 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Sharon 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 | 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.