Compare towns
Guilford vs Reading vs Halifax
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Reading | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
699Lowest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Reading and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
| Guilford and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,991Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.