Compare towns
Shelburne vs Calais vs Charlotte
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
Charlotte has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Calais | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
1,713Lowest |
3,916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Shelburne 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,173 62% above VT |
$6,586Lowest 31% above VT |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Charlotte 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 | — | #3 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.