Compare towns

Alstead vs St. Albans vs Marlow

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).
St. Albans has the most renters (51% rent).
Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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.

MeasureAlsteadSt. AlbansMarlow
People
Population
1,551
6,954Highest
855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
38.7±2Lowest
about the U.S. average
52.8±11.7
36% above U.S.
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%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.8%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±5.7Highest
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%
31.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.2
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.
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
$110,455±$12kHighest
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,600±$37k
18% below U.S.
$263,400±$18kLowest
21% below U.S.
$325,400±$49kHighest
about the U.S. average
Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,150±$78Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,154±$160Highest
18% 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.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,826Highest
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8
U.S.: 51.1%
18.2%±95.1Lowest
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%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76%
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #46 of 70 in VT —
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Marlow School District
High school in town None in town Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 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.