Compare towns
Chelsea vs Middlesex vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($261k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Shoreham has the shortest commute (26 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 | Chelsea | Middlesex | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Chelsea and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
| Middlesex and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,306±$335Lowest 6% above VT |
| Chelsea and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.