Compare towns
Shelburne vs Dover 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 the most renters (30.1% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Dover | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
1,466Lowest |
3,916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Lowest 18% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.2±5 21% above VT |
| Dover and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Shelburne 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% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below 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 |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below 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 |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Shelburne 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.