Compare towns
Shelburne vs Worcester vs Williston vs Charlotte
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 renters (30.1% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Charlotte has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Williston | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,969 |
831Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Charlotte 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
66.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
| Charlotte and Shelburne 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 |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,738±$803 41% above VT |
| Williston and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,173 62% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Charlotte 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 | #3 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.