Compare towns
Johnson vs Mapleton vs Northfield 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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
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 | Mapleton | Northfield | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,450 |
1,884Lowest |
5,920 |
6,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and St. Albans 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$57,980±$7k 28% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Northfield 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. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$263,400±$18k 21% below U.S. |
| Northfield 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 33% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$1,150±$78Highest 19% below U.S. |
| St. Albans and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310 6% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.