Compare towns
Guilford vs Sheldon vs Worcester vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most renters (19.9% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Sheldon | Worcester | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
2,267 |
831 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Leyden 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273 9% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guilford and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.