What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shelburne	Lyme
People
Population	7,969Highest	1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S.	48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Shelburne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Shelburne and Lyme 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%	26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shelburne and Lyme 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 U.S.: 35.7%	70.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shelburne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,963±$16kLowest 44% above U.S.	$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S.
	Lyme 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±$44kLowest 77% above U.S.	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.
	Lyme and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,442±$589Highest about the U.S. average	$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average
	Shelburne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,173Lowest 162% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyme 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	21 minHighest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	27.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Shelburne and Lyme 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	—
School district	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56	Lyme School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.