Compare towns
Fayston vs Shelburne vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayston has the most homeowners (87%).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Fayston | Shelburne | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342Lowest |
7,969 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Shelburne and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest 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+ | 19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.9% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest 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 | $110,250±$28k 36% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above VT |
| Shelburne and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $502,400±$82k 59% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$475,800±$40kLowest 50% above VT |
| Shelburne and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$274 34% above VT |
$1,442±$589Lowest 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,689 33% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Fayston 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.