Compare towns

Lee vs Bellows Falls 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

Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
St. Albans has the youngest population (median age 38.7).

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.

MeasureLeeBellows FallsSt. Albans
People
Population
4,576
2,891Lowest
6,954Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9Highest
10% above U.S.
41.3±6.7
6% above U.S.
38.7±2Lowest
about the U.S. average
Lee and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.9%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bellows Falls and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,579±$54kHighest
63% above U.S.
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below U.S.
$57,980±$7k
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$480,600±$61kHighest
44% above U.S.
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% below U.S.
$263,400±$18k
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,150±$78Highest
19% below U.S.
St. Albans and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
$4,448
43% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.9%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Albans and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #3 of 120 in NH — #46 of 70 in VT
School district Oyster River Coop School District — 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 Our Story 10 photos → 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.