Compare towns

Shelburne vs Williston vs Wolfeboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

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.

MeasureShelburneWillistonWolfeboro
People
Population
7,969
10,144Highest
6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.9±3.2
31% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.2%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.2%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro and Shelburne 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%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston 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
44% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$94,375±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
Shelburne and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$588,100±$44kHighest
77% above U.S.
$475,800±$40kLowest
43% above U.S.
$546,500±$60k
64% above U.S.
Shelburne and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,442±$589
about the U.S. average
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
Williston and Shelburne 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.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±10.6
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston 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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
31.4%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Shelburne and Wolfeboro 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 #11 of 70 in VT #46 of 120 in NH
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.