Compare towns
Guilford vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Guilford | Castleton | Plainfield | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461 |
4,453Highest |
1,314 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 20% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Leyden and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.