What stands out worked out from the figures below

Guilford has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

Branford has the most affordable homes ($401k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Guilford	Branford
People
Population	22,108Lowest	28,217Highest
Median age	51.1±1.9Lowest 24% above CT	54.2±2.1Highest 32% above CT
	Branford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2%	14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	26.6%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5%	30.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5%
	Branford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.6%Highest CT: 42.5%	51.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%	4.9%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Branford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$137,816±$11kHighest 44% above CT	$105,225±$7kLowest 10% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT	$401,200±$21kLowest 9% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,717±$128Highest 15% above CT	$1,565±$111Lowest 5% above CT
	Guilford and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,744Highest 32% above CT	$6,575Lowest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±9Lowest CT: 52.6%	50.7%±9Highest CT: 52.6%
	Branford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.8%Lowest CT: 10%	5.9%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	69.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT	1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the CT average	24 minLowest 11% below CT
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16%	16.1%±3.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Guilford and Branford 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	#15 of 149 in CT	#94 of 149 in CT
School district	Guilford School District	Branford School District
High school in town	Guilford High School	Branford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT 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.