Compare towns
Shelburne vs Waitsfield vs Worcester
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 expensive homes ($588k median).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Waitsfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
1,918 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Shelburne and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$34k 4% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield 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±$92k 33% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.