Compare towns
Shelburne vs White River Junction vs Wilder
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).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969Highest |
3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Shelburne and Wilder 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Wilder 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Shelburne and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Shelburne and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 14% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | — |
| High school 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.