Compare towns
Guilford vs Highgate vs Halifax vs Plainfield
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 renters (19.9% rent).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Highgate | Halifax | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461 |
3,528Highest |
847Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield 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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Highgate 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±$39k about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Guilford 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Guilford and Plainfield 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Halifax 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Halifax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.