Compare towns
Guilford vs Highgate vs Sharon 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 people working from home (16.7%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Sharon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461 |
3,528Highest |
1,577 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above 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% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Sharon 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% |
37.9% 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% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Sharon and Highgate 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±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Sharon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273 4% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Sharon and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827 16% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Guilford and Plainfield 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 | Sharon 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.