Compare towns
Westfield vs Plainfield vs Guildhall vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k 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 | Westfield | Plainfield | Guildhall | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 536 |
1,314Highest |
371Lowest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±19.9 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Plainfield and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.1%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westfield and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Westfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$30k 11% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,400±$47k 5% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$321,200±$62kHighest about the VT average |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Guildhall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$187 30% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,388 13% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,625 8% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Lowell School District |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.