Compare towns
Worcester vs Guilford vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Worcester | Guilford | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,461Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
46.7±5.2Lowest 8% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$312,600±$39k about the VT average |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Guilford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,827Highest 16% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Guilford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.