Compare towns
Shelburne vs Waitsfield 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%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Shelburne | Waitsfield | South Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969 |
1,918Lowest |
20,756Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest 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 |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% 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 |
$422,400±$92kLowest 33% above VT |
$443,400±$19k 40% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
$6,674 32% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
18 minLowest 25% below VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | South Burlington School District |
| High school in town | None 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.