Compare towns

Shelburne vs Dunbarton vs Williston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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.

MeasureShelburneDunbartonWilliston
People
Population
7,969
3,097Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.9±3.2Highest
31% above U.S.
48±3.7
23% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
Shelburne and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.2%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
70.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
44% above U.S.
$124,348±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% above U.S.
Dunbarton 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±$44kHighest
77% above U.S.
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
$475,800±$40kLowest
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,442±$589
about the U.S. average
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,173
162% above U.S.
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±10.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton 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
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Lowest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1990
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
31.4%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Shelburne and Williston 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 #33 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Dunbarton School District 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

U.S. 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.