Compare towns

Johnson vs Dover 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 the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
St. Albans has the most renters (51% rent).

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.

MeasureJohnsonDoverSt. Albans
People
Population
3,450Lowest
33,364Highest
6,954
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
30.9±6.5Lowest
21% below U.S.
36.9±1.9
5% below U.S.
38.7±2Highest
about the U.S. average
St. Albans and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
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%
16.8%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Dover and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,346±$14kLowest
31% below U.S.
$94,829±$7kHighest
17% above U.S.
$57,980±$7k
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$169,400±$62kLowest
49% below U.S.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$263,400±$18k
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$45Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,150±$78
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,310Lowest
6% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,436
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±20.8
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Albans and Johnson 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%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
8.8%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #57 of 70 in VT #64 of 120 in NH #46 of 70 in VT
School district Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Dover School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7Highest
11.4Lowest
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.