What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most people working from home (15.4%).

Shelburne has the highest household income ($93k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canaan	Shelburne
People
Population	810Highest	530Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.2±4.6Highest 37% above U.S.	50.3±11Lowest 29% above U.S.
	Canaan and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Canaan and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shelburne and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shelburne and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,606±$4kLowest 31% below U.S.	$93,125±$18kHighest 15% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,900±$46kLowest 39% below U.S.	$280,200±$45kHighest 16% below U.S.
	Shelburne and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,130±$62 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,389Lowest 9% above U.S.	$3,801Highest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±63.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canaan and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	15.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.3%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canaan and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Canaan School District	—
High school in town	Canaan High School CTE Program	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.