Compare towns
Johnson vs Ira 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
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
St. Albans has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Ira | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
381Lowest |
6,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
38.7±2 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
$57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
| Ira and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,150±$78Highest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,436Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Albans and Johnson 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | 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 | 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.