Compare towns
Guilford vs Chester 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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Chester | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,461 |
2,992Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guilford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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 U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Leyden 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 9% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% 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. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guilford and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Guilford and Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.