Compare towns
Shelburne vs Castleton vs Tunbridge 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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Tunbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Tunbridge | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
4,453 |
1,253Lowest |
3,916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.7±8.3 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
66.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,346±$128 9% 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #3 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.