Compare towns

Shelburne vs Rupert vs South Burlington

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 people working from home (31.4%).
Rupert has the most homeowners (93.7%).
South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).

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.

MeasureShelburneRupertSouth Burlington
People
Population
7,969
676Lowest
20,756Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+13.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.9±3.2
18% above VT
57.8±9.7Highest
34% above VT
38.2±1.8Lowest
11% below VT
Rupert 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%
13.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.3
VT: 17.9%
Shelburne and South Burlington 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%
42.3%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
70.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
67.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.9
VT: 7%
2.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
6.5%±2Highest
VT: 7%
South Burlington 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±$16kHighest
43% above VT
$88,229±$36kLowest
9% above VT
$106,667±$13k
31% above VT
Shelburne and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$588,100±$44kHighest
86% above VT
$362,500±$63kLowest
14% above VT
$443,400±$19k
40% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,442±$589Lowest
17% above VT
—
$1,787±$59Highest
45% above VT
South Burlington and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,173Highest
62% above VT
$4,594Lowest
9% below VT
$6,674
32% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±10.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
42.9%±7.6
VT: 48.4%
Shelburne and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%
VT: 73.2%
93.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
61.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
10 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
14% below VT
27 minHighest
14% above VT
18 minLowest
25% below VT
Work from home
31.4%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.6%±3.3
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #8 of 70 in VT — #12 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 — South Burlington School District
High school in town None in town — South Burlington High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.0
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.