Compare towns
Shelburne vs Reading vs Willsboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Willsboro has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
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 | Reading | Willsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
699Lowest |
1,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Lowest 31% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
55±4.5Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Willsboro and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Shelburne and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Reading 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shelburne and Reading 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 44% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$69,766±$26kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Shelburne and Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$237,900±$48kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$720±$46Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Shelburne and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,173Highest 162% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$2,914Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.1%±35.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Willsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.