Compare towns

Charlotte vs Wilder 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%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).

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.

MeasureCharlotteWilderShelburne
People
Population
3,916
3,087Lowest
7,969Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+81.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.2±5Highest
21% above VT
45.5±8.9Lowest
6% 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%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
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%
27.3%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Shelburne and Wilder 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%
60.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
70.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
8.1%±3.9Highest
VT: 7%
4.7%±2.9
VT: 7%
Wilder and Shelburne 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
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% 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
$273,200±$18kLowest
14% below VT
$588,100±$44k
86% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,738±$803Highest
41% above VT
$1,142±$451Lowest
7% 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
$5,505Lowest
9% above VT
$8,173
62% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.1%±28.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
39.9%±17.2Lowest
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%
9.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
62.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
69.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
7% above VT
17 minLowest
29% below VT
20 min
14% below VT
Work from home
29.8%±8.6
VT: 16.9%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
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 — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school 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.