Compare towns

Shelburne vs Dummerston 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 expensive homes ($588k median).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
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.

MeasureShelburneDummerstonWilliston
People
Population
7,969
2,090Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.9±3.2Highest
18% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% above VT
Shelburne and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Williston 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%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Shelburne and Dummerston 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%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
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±$16kHighest
43% above VT
$101,696±$21kLowest
25% above VT
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
Shelburne and Williston 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
$335,300±$22kLowest
6% above VT
$475,800±$40k
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,442±$589
17% above VT
$1,392±$126Lowest
13% above VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Williston and Shelburne 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
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$5,592
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±10.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williston and Dummerston 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%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
10 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
14% below VT
21 minHighest
11% below VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
31.4%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Shelburne and Dummerston 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 — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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.