Compare towns

Guilford vs Brattleboro vs Sharon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Guilford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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.

MeasureGuilfordBrattleboroSharon
People
Population
2,461
12,122Highest
1,577Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.7±5.2Highest
8% above VT
45.6±4.5Lowest
6% above VT
45.6±7.7Lowest
6% above VT
Guilford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±4.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
21%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sharon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.6%±4Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
25.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Guilford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Brattleboro and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,243±$6k
7% below VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% 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
$312,600±$39k
about the VT average
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below VT
$346,700±$37kHighest
10% above VT
Sharon and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,283±$273
4% above VT
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% 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
$5,827
16% above VT
$5,700Lowest
13% above VT
$5,903Highest
17% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% above VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
26 minHighest
12% above VT
Work from home
16.7%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.7%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Brattleboro 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 — #33 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Sharon School District
High school in town None in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0
—
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.