Compare towns
Worcester vs Shelburne vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Worcester | Shelburne | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
7,969Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest 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 | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Shelburne and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.