Compare towns

Charlotte vs Jay vs Shelburne

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlotte has the highest household income ($144k).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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.

MeasureCharlotteJayShelburne
People
Population
3,916
471Lowest
7,969Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
+8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.2±5Highest
21% above VT
52.1±10.5
21% above VT
50.9±3.2Lowest
18% above VT
Charlotte and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Shelburne and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.3%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Shelburne and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
66.2%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
70.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
4.7%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
Shelburne and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$144,375±$27kHighest
78% above VT
$74,792±$25kLowest
8% below VT
$115,963±$16k
43% above VT
Charlotte and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$695,300±$53kHighest
120% above VT
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$588,100±$44k
86% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,738±$803Highest
41% above VT
—
$1,442±$589Lowest
17% above VT
Charlotte and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,221Highest
83% above VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$8,173
62% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.1%±28.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
43.7%±10.6
VT: 48.4%
Charlotte and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
69.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1986
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
Work from home
29.8%±8.6
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
31.4%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Shelburne and Charlotte 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 #3 of 70 in VT — #8 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None 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.