Compare towns
Shelburne vs Ripton vs Charlotte
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 renters (30.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Charlotte has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Ripton | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
508Lowest |
3,916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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 VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
$112,917±$15kLowest 39% above VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
| 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 86% above VT |
$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589Lowest 17% above VT |
— | $1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
| 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 62% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #3 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.