Compare towns
Williston vs South Burlington vs Hartford vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
South Burlington has the youngest population (median age 38.2).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
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 | Williston | South Burlington | Hartford | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
20,756Highest |
10,736 |
7,969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+13.3% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 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+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
67.6% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| South Burlington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$106,667±$13k 31% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Shelburne and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$443,400±$19k 40% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,787±$59 45% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,674 32% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
69.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 25% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±3.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #12 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | South Burlington School District | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | South Burlington High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
9.6Lowest |
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| 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.