Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Bethlehem 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

Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

MeasureBellows FallsBethlehemSt. Albans
People
Population
2,891
2,537Lowest
6,954Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±6.7
6% above U.S.
50.6±8.5Highest
30% above U.S.
38.7±2Lowest
about the U.S. average
Bethlehem and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bethlehem and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below U.S.
$85,029±$18kHighest
5% above U.S.
$57,980±$7k
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% below U.S.
$288,300±$22kHighest
13% below U.S.
$263,400±$18k
21% below U.S.
Bethlehem and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,174±$81Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,150±$78
19% below U.S.
Bethlehem and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448
43% above U.S.
$5,418Highest
74% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
41.3%±18.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Albans and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #34 of 120 in NH #46 of 70 in VT
School district — Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town — Profile Senior High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9Lowest
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.