Compare towns
Johnson vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Waterville | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
680Lowest |
6,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.7±2 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest 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% |
14.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Waterville 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below VT |
$57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
| Waterville 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 46% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$263,400±$18kHighest 17% below VT |
| St. Albans and Waterville 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,150±$78Highest 7% below VT |
| St. Albans and Waterville 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,436Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 42% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 |
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.