What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shelburne	Walpole
People
Population	7,969Highest	3,690Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S.	46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S.
	Shelburne and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shelburne and Walpole 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 U.S.: 35.7%	32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shelburne and Walpole 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 44% above U.S.	$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$588,100±$44kHighest 77% above U.S.	$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,442±$589Highest about the U.S. average	$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S.
	Shelburne and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,173Highest 162% above U.S.	$6,078Lowest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walpole and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9% U.S.: 65.2%	69.9% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#8 of 70 in VT	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.