Compare towns
Guilford vs Sutton vs Waterville vs Plainfield
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 highest household income ($75k).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Sutton | Waterville | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
790 |
680Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Waterville and Plainfield 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Sutton 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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±$6kHighest 7% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Guilford and Sutton 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| 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 |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Guilford 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Guilford and Plainfield 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| 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 |
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.