Compare towns
Dover vs Shelburne vs Williston vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Williston has the youngest population (median age 45.4).
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Dover | Shelburne | Williston | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
7,969 |
10,144Highest |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Shelburne and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Newfane 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.