Compare towns
Guilford vs Montgomery vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($313k median).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Montgomery | Windham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
1,047 |
594Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Guilford 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Windham and Montgomery 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 |
$868±$209Lowest 30% 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 | $5,827 16% above VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Guilford 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.