What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rutland has the shortest commute (16 min average).

Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rutland	Shaftsbury
People
Population	15,712Highest	3,607Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49±2.1Highest 14% above VT	43±6.6Lowest about the VT average
	Rutland and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	26.2%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%	21.8%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Rutland and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	40.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±0.8Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Rutland and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT	$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT
	Shaftsbury and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT	$267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$995±$65Lowest 19% below VT	$1,079±$54Highest 13% below VT
	Shaftsbury and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,657Highest 8% below VT	$4,015Lowest 20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±8.2Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.7%±36Highest VT: 48.4%
	Shaftsbury and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	82.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 32% below VT	25 minHighest 5% above VT
Work from home	8.1%±2.6Highest VT: 16.9%	7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Rutland and Shaftsbury 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	#51 of 70 in VT	#62 of 70 in VT
School district	Rutland City School District	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town	Rutland Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.