Compare towns

Guilford vs Hardwick vs Brattleboro

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 most expensive homes ($313k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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.

MeasureGuilfordHardwickBrattleboro
People
Population
2,461Lowest
2,965
12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.7±5.2
8% above VT
47.1±7.4Highest
9% above VT
45.6±4.5Lowest
6% above VT
Hardwick 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%
15.8%±4.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
Brattleboro 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%
27%±5.9
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Guilford and Hardwick 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%
33.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6Highest
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
$92,297±$17kHighest
14% above VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
Hardwick 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±$39kHighest
about the VT average
$184,700±$39kLowest
42% below VT
$257,300±$18k
19% below VT
Guilford and Brattleboro 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±$406Lowest
29% below VT
$1,074±$58
13% below VT
Guilford and Brattleboro 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
$4,351Lowest
14% below VT
$5,700
13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±19.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48.6%±41.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Hardwick and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
9.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.4%
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1962
14 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% above VT
29 minHighest
23% above VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
Work from home
16.7%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
11.8%±6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Highest
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 — #68 of 70 in VT #33 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Hazen Union High School Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.6Lowest
9.0Highest
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.