Compare towns

Calais vs Shelburne vs Marshfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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.

MeasureCalaisShelburneMarshfield
People
Population
1,713Lowest
7,969Highest
1,863
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8.6
about the VT average
50.9±3.2Highest
18% above VT
38.7±6.1Lowest
10% below VT
Shelburne and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
20.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.2%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Shelburne and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%
VT: 43.8%
70.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
38.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
4.7%±2.9
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
$115,963±$16kHighest
43% above VT
$60,313±$10kLowest
26% below VT
Shelburne and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
$588,100±$44kHighest
86% above VT
$214,100±$37kLowest
32% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
14% above VT
$1,442±$589Highest
17% above VT
$1,317±$126Lowest
7% above VT
Shelburne and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586
31% above VT
$8,173Highest
62% above VT
$3,668Lowest
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
43.7%±10.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
65.7%±73.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
69.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
29 min
23% above VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
31.4%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
24.5%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
Shelburne and Marshfield 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 — #8 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 —
High school 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.