Compare towns
Danby vs Shelburne vs Dorset
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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Shelburne | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
7,969Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Danby 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% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.