What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).

St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).

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	Jackson	St. Albans
People
Population	1,695Lowest	7,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S.	41.3±2.8Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	St. Albans and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S.	$90,060±$19kHighest 12% above U.S.
	St. Albans and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S.	$363,300±$22kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,139±$43Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,460±$152Highest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,165Lowest 34% above U.S.	$4,689Highest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	73.6%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jackson and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.1%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson 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	—	#46 of 70 in VT
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.