Compare towns
Guildhall vs Plainfield vs Middlebury vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Guildhall | Plainfield | Middlebury | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
1,314 |
9,175Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Middlebury and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Middlebury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,625 48% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.