Compare towns

Shelburne vs Charlotte vs Williston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Charlotte has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureShelburneCharlotteWilliston
People
Population
7,969
3,916Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%
VT: +2.8%
+4.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.9±3.2
18% above VT
52.2±5Highest
21% above VT
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% 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%
19.6%±4.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williston 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%
22.3%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
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%
66.2%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
Williston 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
$144,375±$27kHighest
78% above VT
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% 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
$695,300±$53kHighest
120% above VT
$475,800±$40kLowest
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,442±$589Lowest
17% above VT
$1,738±$803
41% above VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Williston and Charlotte 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
$9,221Highest
83% above VT
$5,592Lowest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±10.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.1%±28.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Charlotte and Williston 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%
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
95.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
10 yrs newer than VT
1982Lowest
6 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
14% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
31.4%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
29.8%±8.6
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
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 #11 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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 Our Story 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.