Compare towns
Guilford vs Halifax vs Ogunquit vs Shaftsbury
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 renters (19.9% rent).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461 |
847Lowest |
1,379 |
3,607Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 20% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$267,300±$24kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273Highest 9% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | $1,079±$54 24% below U.S. |
| Guilford and Shaftsbury 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. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,015Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Halifax 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 | — | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax School District | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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 | 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.