Compare towns
Durham vs Waitsfield vs Shelburne vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Waitsfield | Shelburne | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,918Lowest |
7,969 |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
$1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$8,173 162% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.