Compare towns

Shelburne vs Worcester vs Stowe

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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

MeasureShelburneWorcesterStowe
People
Population
7,969Highest
831Lowest
5,285
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+21.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.9±3.2Highest
18% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
46.3±7.6Lowest
7% 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%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Stowe 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%
25.8%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
Shelburne and Stowe 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%
53%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
66.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.9
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
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
$93,618±$33k
15% above VT
Shelburne and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$588,100±$44k
86% above VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$647,800±$157kHighest
105% above VT
Stowe and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,442±$589
17% above VT
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,458±$242Highest
18% above VT
Stowe 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
$7,161
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.7%±10.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Shelburne and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
78.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
14% below VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
19 minLowest
18% below VT
Work from home
31.4%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
Shelburne and Stowe 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Stowe Town School District
High school in town None in town None in town Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.3
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.