Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Shelburne vs Fayston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Fayston has the most homeowners (87%).
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 | Waitsfield | Shelburne | Fayston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
7,969Highest |
1,342Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
| Shelburne and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.3%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
66.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$110,250±$28k 36% above VT |
| Shelburne and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kLowest 33% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$502,400±$82k 59% above VT |
| Shelburne and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
| Fayston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$6,689 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Fayston 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.