What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Petersburgh has the most affordable homes ($170k 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.

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

Measure	Shaftsbury	Petersburgh
People
Population	3,607Highest	1,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±6.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	51.3±6.3Highest 32% above U.S.
	Petersburgh and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Petersburgh and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shaftsbury and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,071±$24kHighest 7% above U.S.	$77,692±$15kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Shaftsbury and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$24kHighest 20% below U.S.	$170,300±$23kLowest 49% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,100±$630Highest 22% below U.S.
	Petersburgh and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,015Highest 29% above U.S.	$3,223Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±36Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.2%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shaftsbury and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Petersburgh 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	#62 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.