Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Reading vs Windsor vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
St. Albans has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Bellows Falls | Reading | Windsor | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891 |
699Lowest |
3,554 |
6,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
| Reading and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Reading 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 VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
31.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
$263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,150±$78Highest 7% below VT |
| St. Albans and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448 12% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school 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 | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.