Compare towns
Shelburne vs Meredith vs Charlotte
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Charlotte has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Meredith | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
6,758 |
3,916Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Lowest 31% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.2±5 34% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shelburne and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$144,375±$27kHighest 79% above U.S. |
| 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 77% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$695,300±$53kHighest 109% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,738±$803Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Charlotte and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,173 162% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$9,221Highest 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±28.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlotte and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #3 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.