Compare towns
Vernon vs Strafford vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Vernon | Strafford | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
| Strafford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$75,243±$6kLowest 7% below VT |
| Strafford and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kLowest 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$312,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
| Guilford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191Lowest 3% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,827 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Guilford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Guilford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Vernon School District | Strafford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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.