Compare towns
Danby vs Pawlet vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Pawlet has the youngest population (median age 47.9).
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.
| Measure | Danby | Pawlet | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
1,480 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
| Shelburne and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Shelburne and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Pawlet 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 | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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 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.