What stands out worked out from the figures below

Albany has the most people working from home (20%).

Irasburg has the highest household income ($99k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Albany	Irasburg
People
Population	934Lowest	1,384Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±6.2Highest about the VT average	40.3±5.3Lowest 6% below VT
	Albany and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	31%±10.3Highest VT: 17.9%	24.4%±3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Albany and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	19.5%±2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Irasburg and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	23.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±4.1Highest VT: 7%	3%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Albany and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,167±$14kLowest 27% below VT	$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$231,500±$12kHighest 27% below VT	$230,800±$22kLowest 27% below VT
	Albany and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,114±$23Highest 10% below VT	$1,063±$86Lowest 14% below VT
	Albany and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,093Highest 19% below VT	$3,966Lowest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±65.2Highest VT: 48.4%	17%±28.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Albany and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT	1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 17% above VT	24 minLowest 3% above VT
Work from home	20%±11.6Highest VT: 16.9%	5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.