Compare towns
Guilford vs Plainfield vs Ripton vs Sharon
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).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% 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 | Plainfield | Ripton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest 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%±4 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Sharon 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 |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.