Compare towns
Johnson vs St. Albans vs Wilder vs Northfield
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).
St. Albans has the most renters (51% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
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.
| Measure | Johnson | St. Albans | Wilder | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,450 |
6,954Highest |
3,087Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
38.7±2 10% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| Wilder 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±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% |
13.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 32% below VT |
$57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Wilder 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 46% below VT |
$263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
| Northfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,150±$78Highest 7% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| St. Albans and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,436 12% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Wilder 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #46 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.