Compare towns
Guilford vs Sheldon vs Worcester vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 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 | Sheldon | Worcester | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461 |
2,267 |
831Lowest |
2,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Worcester 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Vernon 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Vernon 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Guilford and Vernon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Guilford 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Guilford and Vernon 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Guilford 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 | — | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.