Compare towns
Guilford vs Springfield vs Plainfield 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Springfield | Plainfield | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461 |
9,084Highest |
1,314Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Vernon 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$285,100±$25k 10% 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.