What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).

Bolton has the most affordable homes ($312k 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	Shelburne	Bolton
People
Population	7,969Highest	1,163Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT	36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%	14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Shelburne and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%	6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	58.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7%	2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Shelburne and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT	$111,125±$17kLowest 37% above VT
	Shelburne and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT	$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT	$1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT
	Shelburne and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,173Highest 62% above VT	$4,826Lowest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4%	28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Shelburne and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	81.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986 10 yrs newer than VT	1986 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 14% below VT	28 minHighest 17% above VT
Work from home	31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Shelburne and Bolton 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	—
School district	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.