Compare towns
Halifax vs Plainfield vs Guilford vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Guilford has the highest household income ($75k).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Halifax | Plainfield | Guilford | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,314 |
2,461Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Plainfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Guilford and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$75,243±$6kHighest 7% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Guilford and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$312,600±$39k about the VT average |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% 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 | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 | $4,991 about the VT average |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,827Highest 16% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.