Compare towns
Shelburne vs Worcester vs Essex
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
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 | Worcester | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,969 |
831Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
| Shelburne and Essex 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
| Essex 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.