Compare towns
Guilford vs Halifax vs Jay
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k 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.
| Measure | Guilford | Halifax | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
847 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Guilford 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Guilford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6kHighest 7% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Guilford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Guilford and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
— |
| Guilford and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827Highest 16% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.