Living in Shelburne, VT

Chittenden County

Shelburne is a real, current, genuinely affluent Burlington-metro suburb on the shore of Lake Champlain in Chittenden County -- Vermont's only genuinely urban economic and population center per vermont.js's own statewide research. Shelburne's real, current median household income (~$109,583-$115,963) runs substantially above Vermont's own statewide median, alongside a favorably low 9.99% poverty rate. Shelburne is real, current home to two nationally significant cultural and agricultural landmarks: the Shelburne Museum, the largest art and history museum in New England, spanning 45 acres with 39 buildings including a relocated steamboat, covered bridge, and lighthouse; and Shelburne Farms, a 1,400-acre working farm, nonprofit sustainability education center, and National Historic Landmark laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted. Housing runs genuinely, substantially above both the national and Vermont statewide figures -- a real, disclosed consequence of Shelburne's affluent suburban character. Shelburne's crime data, per HomeSnacks, runs genuinely favorable on balance (a substantially below-national violent-crime rate, held for a fourth consecutive year), alongside a modestly above-national property-crime reading this record discloses honestly. Shelburne sits within the Burlington metro's broader University of Vermont Medical Center healthcare system rather than hosting its own hospital.

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Housing

Median sale price$642,000

Taxes

Local effective property tax rate1.35%

Not independently sourced at the Chittenden County level this session. Vermont's top state income tax rate is 8.75%. See the Vermont hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Shelburne-specific.

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The tradeoffs

Pros

A real, genuinely affluent Burlington-metro suburb on Lake Champlain, home to two nationally significant landmarks (the Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms), a favorably low violent-crime rate held for a fourth consecutive year, a strong regional public high school (Champlain Valley Union, Niche's #3 in Vermont), and direct access to the broader Burlington metro's diversified economy and healthcare system.

Cons

Housing runs genuinely, substantially above both the national and Vermont statewide figures, and Shelburne's typical annual property tax bill runs notably high in absolute dollar terms despite a comparatively moderate effective rate, a direct consequence of its high home values. Property crime specifically runs modestly above the national average even as the overall and violent-crime pictures run favorably.

Who this fits

Best for: Best fits families and higher-income buyers drawn to an affluent, established Burlington-metro suburb with genuine cultural landmarks (the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms), lake access, and strong regional schools, plus movers who prioritize proximity to Burlington's broader economy and healthcare system.

Maybe not for you if: Probably not the right fit for movers prioritizing housing affordability (Shelburne's own prices run well above both the national and Vermont statewide figures) or those who want the very lowest possible property crime rate, given Shelburne's own modestly above-national property-crime reading.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-28. Independent research; see individual metric entries above for source attribution. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.