Compare towns
Charlotte vs Peru 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 most homeowners (95.5%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Shelburne has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Charlotte | Peru | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,916 |
434Lowest |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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% |
21.4%±5Lowest 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% |
54.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,375±$27k 78% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$115,963±$16kLowest 43% above VT |
| Peru and Charlotte 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 |
$400,000±$105kLowest 26% above VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,442±$589 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 |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$8,173 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.8%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest 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 | — | 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.