Compare towns
Johnson vs Alstead 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
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
St. Albans has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Johnson | Alstead | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
1,551Lowest |
6,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$57,980±$7k 28% below U.S. |
| Alstead and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$263,400±$18k 21% below U.S. |
| Alstead and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,150±$78Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8 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 | 12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 70 in VT | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| 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.