Compare towns
Van Buren vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Van Buren has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.1%).
Guilford has the most expensive homes ($170k 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 | Van Buren | Guilford |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
1,096Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-16.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.2Highest 25% above ME |
53.5±7.4Lowest 19% above ME |
| Van Buren and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
30.5%±4.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Van Buren and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
10.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Van Buren and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $40,170±$4kLowest 46% below ME |
$53,173±$13kHighest 29% below ME |
| Guilford and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $97,700±$24kLowest 67% below ME |
$170,100±$31kHighest 43% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$141Highest 36% below ME |
$507±$336Lowest 55% below ME |
| Van Buren and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,415Lowest 53% below ME |
$1,619Highest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.7%±11Lowest ME: 48.4% |
67%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Guilford and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 23%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 40% below ME |
19 minHighest 22% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±8.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Guilford and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| School district | RSU 88/MSAD 24 | RSU 80/MSAD 04 |
| High school in town | Van Buren District Secondary Sch | Piscataquis Community Secondary School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
10.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.