Compare towns
Guilford vs Waltham vs Sharon
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 most affordable homes ($313k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Waltham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,461Highest |
452Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Guilford 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waltham 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±$6kLowest 7% below VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Waltham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827 16% above VT |
$5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Guilford and Waltham 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — | Sharon School District |
| High school 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.