Compare towns
Sandgate vs Shelburne vs Williston vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Williston has the youngest population (median age 45.4).
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 | Sandgate | Shelburne | Williston | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
7,969 |
10,144Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 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 | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% 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 | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 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 | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Shelburne 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 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school 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.