Compare towns

Calais vs Shelburne vs Underhill

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%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureCalaisShelburneUnderhill
People
Population
1,713Lowest
7,969Highest
3,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8.6
about the VT average
50.9±3.2Highest
18% above VT
38.1±11.4Lowest
12% 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%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Underhill 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%
17.6%±6Lowest
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%
50.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
4.7%±2.9
VT: 7%
3.5%±2Lowest
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
$92,267±$54kLowest
14% above 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±$36kLowest
23% above VT
$588,100±$44kHighest
86% above VT
$446,000±$24k
41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392Lowest
14% above VT
$1,442±$589Highest
17% 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
$6,586Lowest
31% above VT
$8,173Highest
62% above VT
$6,697
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.7%±10.6
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Calais and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
6.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
69.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
33 minHighest
39% above VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
31.4%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Shelburne and Calais 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 #2 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
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.