Compare towns
Shelburne vs Waitsfield vs Stowe
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 affordable homes ($422k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
1,918Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Shelburne and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Lowest 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% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield 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 |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Shelburne and Stowe 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 |
$422,400±$92kLowest 33% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Stowe 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.