Compare towns
Charlotte vs Ripton vs Springfield 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Ripton | Springfield | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,916 |
508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
7,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Shelburne 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
— | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$8,173 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
69.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.8%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.