What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clifton has the shortest commute (29 min average).

St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

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	Clifton	St. Albans
People
Population	1,111Lowest	1,831Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.7±7.1Lowest 18% above ME	54.3±7Highest 21% above ME
	St. Albans and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.8%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	St. Albans and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±7.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±4Highest ME: 22.4%
	St. Albans and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.6%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Clifton 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	$70,313±$16kHighest 6% below ME	$65,600±$23kLowest 12% below ME
	Clifton and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,500±$67kHighest 32% below ME	$194,000±$28kLowest 35% below ME
	Clifton and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME	$1,056±$662Lowest 7% below ME
	Clifton and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,838Lowest 39% below ME	$1,915Highest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.5%±99.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	St. Albans and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 19% above ME	33 minHighest 34% above ME
Work from home	9.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	St. Albans and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.