Compare towns
Alstead vs Marlow vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
St. Albans has the most renters (51% rent).
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 | Alstead | Marlow | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
855Lowest |
6,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
38.7±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Marlow and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Marlow School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.