Compare towns
Guilford vs Plainfield vs Shaftsbury
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%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,461 |
1,314Lowest |
3,607Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Shaftsbury 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% |
40.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Guilford and Plainfield 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
| Shaftsbury 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$267,300±$24kLowest 16% below VT |
| 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,015Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Shaftsbury 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% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.