Compare towns
Shaftsbury vs Arlington vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Guilford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Shaftsbury | Arlington | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607Highest |
2,598 |
2,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43±6.6 about the VT average |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
46.7±5.2Highest 8% above VT |
| Guilford and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$75,243±$6kLowest 7% below VT |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$24kLowest 16% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$312,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Arlington and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
| Guilford and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,015Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$5,827Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.