Compare towns
Shelburne vs Williston vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelburne has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Shelburne | Williston | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 530 |
10,144Highest |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.3±11Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$18k 15% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,200±$45kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,130±$62Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,801 22% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,690Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.